The well travelled road effect is a cognitive bias where travelers estimate the time taken to traverse routes based on their familiarity with them. Familiar routes are perceived to take less time compared to unfamiliar ones, leading to errors in estimating the most efficient route to an unfamiliar destination. This effect is particularly noticeable for drivers but can also affect pedestrians and public transport users.
For instance, a regular commuter might estimate a familiar route to work (say, 20 minutes) as quicker than a new route, even if the latter is more direct and takes the same amount of time, simply due to their familiarity with the former.
To overcome this bias, individuals should consciously analyze and compare unfamiliar routes using reliable time estimates, rather than relying solely on previous experiences.