Multi-reader gate

This section should be read in conjunction with the following sections:

Passive gate or turnstile which describes the general technology, application and benefit/ cautions of gates and turnstiles; and
Gates with coins or token operation, Gates with magnetic-stripe readers, Gates with bar-code readers, and Gates with smart-card readers, which deal with the technical and application aspects of various types of card readers and coin / token accepters when integrated with or connected to gates and turnstiles.

This section only considers the specific aspects arising with multi-reader gates.

Multi-reader gates are gates or turnstiles where more than one type of reader is available to customers to activate it. The objective is to allow holders of different ticket and fare payment media to access the transit system.

In general, multi-reader gates are based on one primary reader technology which is fully integrated or embedded in the gate / turnstile, and the other reading devices are added to it. In some cases, new gates are designed from the outset to have more than one fully integrated reader type.

It would be most unusual, and indeed rather challenging to have multiple readers connected with a gate or turnstile that did not have any original reader. Such a gate would have no resident microprocessor-based controller, nor the wiring or ports to host a number of electronic devices. The exception is where existing gates are rebuilt, keeping the original ‘shell’ and installing an intelligent controller, wiring, ports and the readers.

Multi-reader gates are used in the following contexts:

Transition from magnetic-stripe tickets to smart-cards where magnetic-stripe tickets are retained. This can be either for specific types of tickets (it may be too expensive to use smart cards for low-value or disposable cards), or during a transitional period when magnetic-stripe tickets are gradually being phased out.
Where different ticketing media are issued by different modes or different operators. Sometimes this is a transitional issue, when some transit modes have moved to a new ticketing medium (e.g. smart-card) while one or more other modes have not yet done so. In other cases, there are valid reasons why different media are better suited to different modes, especially if the volume of trips on the individual modes is significantly higher than the volume of integrated or transfer trips.
Where innovative technologies are implemented (e.g. bar-codes, NFC-enabled applets) and the new reading mechanism is retrofitted to the existing system.
Where the payment media of non-transit third party issuers (e.g. banks) are accepted. In this case, the transit agency did not determine the ticketing or fare payment medium, and needs to retrofit their system if they decide to accept this external medium.

The fare products accepted, applications and mode of use are as described in the individual gate and reader sections.

Benefits of multi-reader gates and turnstiles (relative to gates or turnstiles with one reader type) are:

The gates can accept different ticketing and payment media. This allows them to accept a wider range of fare products and payment types, including those of multiple modes and of third-party card issuers.
Allows integrated ticketing, (or at least inter-modal transfer), even when the ticketing technologies themselves are not compatible.
Allows gradual transition from one ticketing medium to another; avoids the requirement for ‘big bang’ changeover.
Can support legacy payment systems if these are deemed suited to specific fare products.
Allows new ticketing concepts to be tested and, if successful, to be incorporated into the permanent solution.
Allows ergonomic options to be tested, to assist design improvements.

Cautions with regard to multi-reader gates and turnstiles (relative to gates or turnstiles with one reader type) are:

Customers may find it confusing, leading to delays at the entry points to the system, and to customer dissatisfaction.
May be difficult to accommodate the various readers in the available volume within the device, or in the approach area to the gate.
More complex design, processing and wiring requirements.
Legacy gates might not be able to properly support the range of readers.
May require expensive retrofit of the gate, especially if new processor and wiring are required.
Potential for conflict among the different reader devices and their protocols.
Additional maintenance requirements.
Potential for suppliers of the different components and their software to blame each other if there are integration or operational problems.