NYC's Spiked Turnstiles Ineffective Against Fare Evaders

[{"selector":"#anim-0bc80e63-e9c0-45c1-a403-4341193025dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c6a2274-35e5-4c8d-b893-958a7a11f970","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.08861%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d4a15e2-55b3-466b-8d87-5ac9ce54d640","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0fd308b-deb1-40f8-9eeb-63bf4aa728de","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-126.2136%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] NYC's Spiked Turnstiles Ineffective Against Fare Evaders Karmactive Staff

The MTA in the U.S has attempted to curb fare evasion by installing spiked barriers at subway turnstiles.

[{"selector":"#anim-99a46835-9436-41ff-a22a-43f4e27f510c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-246c7646-4912-42c5-b867-c1cb0f9cb9dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a505e87-a8cd-40e1-aec2-0e1e97602aa6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e9b27ae-bec1-4927-9ae5-4225c44b57c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37a375b2-50fe-4618-beb8-d0263aca3038","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: MTA International/ Wikipedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The pilot project launched at Manhattan's 59th Street-Lexington Avenue station, servicing the N, R, W, 4, 5, and 6 lines.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c23fa97-26b0-49e7-b92e-b1ac2a57a8b8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca8630b6-10e7-41af-a81d-2f9238c3a12f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3a54b29-ed39-4db2-bc37-172310e46c04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc131559-2955-4c9f-b811-39abe2589794","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.72714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae5390b9-8dfb-469d-a079-68b055ab60c6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Marc A. Hermann / MTA(CC BY 2.0)

The fare evasion costs the MTA an estimated $500 million annually following its prior effort to install electronic panel doors worth $700,000, which proved ineffective.

[{"selector":"#anim-b4880f29-b761-48eb-a149-07535d8bafb9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97c1d8b9-7180-452d-bf79-3a1cc035dc71","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1b020f5-45bb-4189-b1ae-26bd00473d3a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca9bd2f8-520c-4622-84f0-b13ddf858704","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a6d2907-d810-4a7f-9978-2dd0a4d6726c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit(CC BY 2.0)

1. The 2023 initiative where $700,000 electronic panel doors proved ineffective after social media users demonstrated easy bypassing techniques.

[{"selector":"#anim-c9ed4301-b316-48a6-b8de-60d6b42e3899","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2fba85bd-c7dd-4e29-a7ba-00fa15cea113","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18112365-3910-41bb-88ed-b9cf032a205f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d438664b-8101-49c7-9113-bf8b5b7dd3cc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac9674f8-2b6d-4ef1-9ea2-c8a47df2ba14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ray Raimundi (CC BY 2.0)

This development reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing public transit accessibility with revenue protection in New York's subway system.

[{"selector":"#anim-24cad51c-ddfa-48d5-a2c8-3ad83f24c7c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-461ed02d-04b9-48cf-8517-16e58080bceb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37155e1e-ff30-40c5-8e48-33ef88dfd518","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0db63060-6f59-4110-aed9-b27ba02c7127","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6522619b-a8f1-4fe8-a194-5022bf7a244f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Marc A. Hermann / MTA (CC BY 2.0)

The recent developments have instigated a debate about its effectiveness and safety implications.

[{"selector":"#anim-209fbb23-b786-4a1f-afdc-3489975bccba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0833ad80-c7d5-4424-bcdf-08d80371d88e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 249.72502%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be93b603-5d68-4233-90b6-8679a44aa940","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddae9b7c-1290-4b04-a988-97fd70807a81","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-069336bc-4bb4-4886-9df2-e215bf6d1bb9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit (CC BY 2.0)

The developments give rise to question the approach's effectiveness versus addressing underlying causes.

[{"selector":"#anim-7f600e2f-c973-4272-b2c0-59ea1ffc37c2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-304e7cd1-ac60-49a8-813a-6845f38f5cce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b42fecfd-6de8-4518-89ad-a0130b3506a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-979658fa-ac24-4ea6-a8b4-203a165838db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02cafb0c-820e-4984-a4f7-db67b18918bf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Marc A. Hermann / MTA (CC BY 2.0)

Safety concerns and effectiveness are under the government’s eye to seeking additional solutions to address concerns that comes with protecting its revenue along with equal accessibility to resources.

[{"selector":"#anim-1b9509a2-56da-4bd2-8771-118de1fc1c5e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3544d629-0973-4e47-8414-18e4ecd9db2b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.12854%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcd61ae5-a3be-44c0-9132-148fcc4b6744","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8ca4642-88fa-418b-8ab9-e04a493063a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90acf5b4-ff51-4dc9-bf82-8315da102e10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Oliver Cole/ FreeRange

[{"selector":"#anim-522e8258-79f6-4b9d-b744-dce19f33fa67","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad270ff2-22cc-4795-8ab3-0b0d394b1107","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b9e9db6-f254-4523-89c1-1e11a9e43b87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8912126-d18b-4f0c-b86a-661047cd74ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f90ba05-d499-4bba-bf08-eb1c04008fa3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] NYPD Officers to Patrol Every NYC Subway Train Overnight Learn more