Photo by Mr. T in DC.

Back in August, a change to Metro’s fare structure caused the mechanism that calculates how much money to deduct from your SmarTrip card to work more slowly, delaying faregate openings and causing backups and complaints. In response, Metro officials asked commuters to simply hold their SmarTrip cards over the sensors for a little longer.

The incident got us to thinking — even when it comes to commuting, we truly are creatures of habit. And yes, that habit is certainly reflected in how we use our SmarTrip cards. For so long, we were used to quickly tapping the cards on the sensors and zipping through the faregates, but Metro’s new structure has thrown off many a rhythm.

So in the name of social science, we committed to hundreds of hours of research at a representative sample of Metro stations to better observe, analyze and categorize how commuters used their SmarTrip cards. (Okay, it was about 20 minutes of observation at a single Metro station, but hey, there were at least 50 commuters involved.) With that knowledge and advanced analytical methods (alright, maybe not “advanced”), we narrowed commuters down to a number of useful categories.

Call it DCist’s patented SmarTrip Swiping Style Guide. Identify your profile below:

Single: You stride towards the faregate, and in a single, smooth motion you tap the SmarTrip card to the sensor. You’re confident, composed and conditioned to know that the single tap of the card is enough to let the faregates know, “hey, I’m here, I’ve got the money, and I’d like to get through.”

Slide: You may be just as confident as the single swiper, but you’re more interested in efficiency. Sliding your SmarTrip card along the top of the sensor is part of a smooth and energy-saving motion. Timing is everything — but the people who do this well don’t even break a stride as they glide on through the faregates.

Shake: It might be that you’re nervous by nature, or maybe you’re just not very trusting of technology. Either way, you don’t tap, and you don’t slide — you shake. The SmarTrip card has to go back and forth along the sensor at least four times, though more is always preferred. For some reason, much like the antsy elevator rider, you’re convinced that seeming pressed for time will encourage the faregates to open more quickly.

Slam: You’re the Thor of the commuting world, aggressively slamming your SmarTrip card on the sensor. The faregate doesn’t open because you’ve got money on the card, but rather to spare itself yet another burst of your commuter rage.

Stealth: You’re either a spy-in-training or simply too lazy to take your SmarTrip card out. Instead, you touch your wallet to the reader. Or your bag. Or a special lanyard around your neck. Either way, the casual observer is none-the-wiser, for you seem to have tricked your way into the system.

Slow and Steady: Why rush the faregates? You’re the type to stop, gently lower your SmarTrip card on to the reader and carefully retract, fearing that any sudden movement will lock the gates completely.

Sleeper: Somehow, you have yet to jump on the SmarTrip train. Yes, you’re a paper farecard user, the very type that SmarTrip-holders dread ending up behind.