Why are real-time transit updates so hard to rely on when planning a trip?

[Jerry_G]

I’ve been trying to plan my commute using the new real-time passenger information screens at my local train station, but the predicted arrival times keep jumping around just as I’m about to decide which train to catch. It makes me hesitate and sometimes I end up missing the earlier one because I second-guess the display. Does anyone else find that the live updates are almost too dynamic to be useful for making a quick decision?

[ChloeUT]

Yep, I’m with you. Those screens jump around and I end up standing there second guessing which train to catch, and yes I’ve missed the earlier one more than once. Lately I pick a train and stick with it for a minute or two, even if the ETA keeps changing. It’s kind of a small victory when it works, but it stays tense.

[Paisley46]

I started glancing at my phone instead of the wall display, because the app seems to settle a little more. It sometimes feels like I’m chasing two sources and I’m never sure which one to trust, which just adds to the chaos.

[PenelopeA]

One day I watched the ETA jump three times in a minute and then the first train arrived while the display still said it was on time. It made me question what the screen is actually doing.

[Amelia.M]

Do you think the problem is the screen refreshing too often, or is it something about how we read the information under time pressure?