Herr and Fru Gårman

Herr Gårman is the name of the character appearing on the pedestrian crossing sign in Sweden. The shape of Herr Gårman has remained the same since the late 1950s' when Kåge Gustafson created it. Every Swede knows the Gårman since scholl where a short song is used to sensitize kids to only cross streets in the pedestrian crosings. Until 1967, Swedes were driving on the left side of the road, and therefore, the pedestrian on the traffic sign was coming from the left to the right. At this time, the background was yellow, and the crossing marked by two parallel dotted lines. As the country changed driving side in 1967, the Gårman changed his walking direction as well. Yet, some old Gårmen can still be encountered...

Åland, May 2007

You know Mr. Gårman, Mr. Gårman knows you.

On the blue sign he stands and watch you and me.

Here you go, here you go.

On white lines you go.

Here but not there. Here but not there.

Here you go, here you go.

On white lines you go.

Here, here you go!

In 1979, Kåge Gustafson had already developed a proposal for a female pedestrian, which he sent to the Minister of COmmunication at the time. But he did not get a reply and the sign went forgotten. Some are saying that there was difficulties in getting an agreement on how to represent a woman on a traffic sign while avoiding gender stereotypes and sexual connotation... However, she resurfaced in 2010 in Uppsala, when the decision was made to introduce Fru Gårman. This was a mistake as the new version above was supposed to be used and not the previous version from 1979!