Train station Fare gate

In urban mass rapid transit systems, fare gates are often used in two directions: for entering as well as exiting the stations. Our challenge was to improve the ergonomics of ST Electronics’ fare gates to guide passengers intuitively to the correct side of each gate, optimizing commuter flow in busy MRT stations. The fare gates we designed for ST Electronics won them a Singapore Good Design Award in 2014 and are currently being implemented in the Taiwan’s Taichung MRT. 
 
ST Electronics wanted to reexamine the way commuters use fare gates and optimize their ergonomics through design. We started by looking at anthropometric data of users for better dimensioning of the gates. Through onsite observation, we identified key insights on how to direct commuters to the correct lane and incorporated these findings into the semantics and form of the fare gates. 
 
Specifically, the shape of the fare gates has a left bias and gentle slope to present the interaction points to the user’s right side. The fare gates were crafted to ensure that screen angles minimize glare and tap zones for electronic fare payment media are at a comfortable level.