Here’s how the tracker apps work, to my knowledge: Each bus is outfitted with a GPS tracker that links to the app and should give you real-time information on your bus’ location. If the app picks up a bus on the tracker, it will give a pretty accurate arrival time +- like a minute depending on traffic, number of stops, any special needs passengers, etc. If the app does NOT detect a GPS tracker, it will revert to the scheduled arrival time - the assumption is that the tracker is malfunctioning and the bus is actually on-schedule. What’s much more likely ime is that either the bus driver called out and there is a gap in the route or the bus got so backed up that the app thinks it’s scheduled for a later arrival time. If I don’t see a bus icon on the map, I assume it’s not coming at the scheduled time.

In general, bus service in Richmond is pretty reliable, at least compared to other mid-sized American cities. It sounds like you got really unlucky that multiple buses were out in a row.