Pair a Clear Recommendation With a Real Exit Route

Natalie Hussam Masarwa frames a transit decision after a disruption as a choice between one suggested alternative and several options side by side. Bella’s blank-canvas example adds a useful constraint: guidance should offer a first move without forcing everyone onto the same track.

I’d test a third design: show one recommended route with a short reason, while keeping “compare alternatives” visible from the start. The riskiest assumption is that people want a quick suggestion but still feel able to choose differently.

Prototype it against a side-by-side list with people handling a sample disruption. Check whether they can find an appropriate route, explain its trade-off, and switch to another option—not just how quickly they tap. If the recommendation hides a meaningful alternative or people mistake it for the only route, revise the design before expanding it. That makes ease and agency testable together.