Standing at a crosswalk can be really boring (or annoying if you’re in a hurry). Here are a few that make the wait a little more bearable.

The Dancing Crosswalk Signal

Most accidents involving pedestrians happen at traffic lights and major intersections. Those in a hurry often resort to jaywalking and that can lead to unfortunate events, especially if an inattentive driver is just around the corner. This is why Smart (the automaker responsible for those environmentally friendly cars that are so small you can practically put them in your pocket) came up with a potential solution: a dancing crosswalk signal. They recently tested the system at an intersection in Lisbon, Portugal and it was a big hit.

Here’s how it works. Instead of remaining stationary, the red “Do Not Walk” silhouette on the crosswalk sign dances. This encourages pedestrians to watch the little guy strut his stuff instead of trying to dart across the street against traffic. His moves are based on those of volunteers dancing in a nearby kiosk. Motion-capturing cameras inside transfer their moves to the sign and anybody can give it a try. Smart says that their system has encouraged 81% of pedestrians to not jaywalk.

Ampelmännchen

One of the world’s most iconic and beloved crosswalk figures can be found in Berlin. Designed by “traffic psychologist” Karl Peglau in 1961, the green figures were created to help make streets safer in East Berlin. Unlike their more basic contemporaries in cities all over the world, the Ampelmännchen wear brimmed hats and evoke a “can do” spirit with their confident strides. After the Berlin Wall came down and Germany was reunified, the Ampelmännchen became mascots for the country’s communist era.

Believe it or not, many Germans still pine for life behind the Iron Curtain and there’s even a term for this phenomenon: ostalgie, a portmanteau of nostalgia and oost, the German word for east. Tourists and locals alike now take photos of the signs and there are five shops in Berlin devoted to Ampelmännchen products, including mugs, key chains, buttons, Christmas ornaments, gummy candies, and electric guitars.