Skip to main content

How New York is designing the perfect subway car

How New York is designing the perfect subway car

Share this story

NYC Subway
NYC Subway

New York transit authorities have come up with what they believe is the ideal car interior. In the winter of 2011-2012, researchers rode the New York City subway system to monitor where travellers sat and stood, also studying the length of time they did so. Unsurprisingly, New Yorkers were happy to sit or stand alone, preferring to congregate near the doors in the middle of the car, even if there were seats available. Wired takes a look at the new subway car design — which suggests utilizing asymmetrical door placements to lure riders away from the doors and removing the middle seats — which mimic NYC subway car designs of old (pictured above).