Maps on graphs can be deformed to be coincidence free (Q648542)

Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be nontrivial connected graphs and \(f,g:X\to Y\) continuous maps (where \(X\) and \(Y\) are considered as one-dimensional CW-complexes). If \(Y\) is not homeomorphic to a circle then it is shown that \(f\) and \(g\) can be changed by a homotopy to be coincidence free. This implies that any coincidence index (and hence any Nielsen number or Reidemeister trace) in this situation must be zero thereby showing that the author's previous result for a bouquet of circles [Topol. Methods Nonlinear Anal. 33, No. 1, 41--50 (2009; Zbl 1181.55003)]) must be false.