Automated fare collection

Automated fare collection is when you pay to ride on a bus, train, or subway without using money. Instead, you use a special card or another system to pay for your ride quickly and easily. It's like magic! You just hold up your card or phone to a special machine, and it tells you how much money you have left on your card and lets you on the train or bus.

When you first get your special card, you usually have to put some money on it. That's called "loading" your card. So you might load your card with 10 or 20 dollars from your bank account, and then you can use that money to ride the train or bus without having to remember to carry cash.

The special machines that read your card or phone are called "fare gates" or "turnstile". They have little machines inside them that can scan your card or phone and tell if you have enough money left to ride. They also make sure that nobody rides for free.

Automated fare collection is a great way to save time and avoid the hassle of carrying cash or standing in line to buy tickets. Plus, it helps the transportation companies keep track of how many people are riding their vehicles, which makes it easier for them to plan their routes and schedules.