4 ms·

Trains accelerate and decelerate relatively often compared to planes where you only really notice changes in velocity at take-off and landing so I don't think i

Trains accelerate and decelerate relatively often compared to planes where you only really notice changes in velocity at take-off and landing so I don't think it would make a difference

Tor3 2y ago
Japanese limited express trains and the bullet train have very few stops (or none, depending), and the ride is very smooth.. still, my wife (Japanese) can't sit backwards-facing without getting sick. Not sure what causes this.
- Aeolun 2y ago
  It would not surprise if there was something about human physiology that thinks it’s unnatural to go backwards. Our eyes are in front of our head for a reason.
  - Qem 2y ago
    I don't know for sure, but is very common to see parents carrying children facing backwards in their arms, while walking, with no ill effects. No big deal.
    - Aeolun 2y ago
      Sure, but there’s a speed limit to that, and you sort of trust the person holding you implicitly. Not really applicable to an aircraft hurtling along at 300m/s
      - Tor3 2y ago
        But you don't notice that speed.. (ref. Newton and Einstein and others). I agree with those saying it must be psychological.. well, mostly. Sometimes you do physically notice that you're facing backwards. At takeoff, for example. And, to some extent, landing. Maybe when banking too. I haven't tried, obviously (the backwards-facing unfolding seats for the crew would be the place to test this).
- flemhans 2y ago
  Tangentially related: The seats on Shinkansen trains can be rotated to adapt to the needs of the passengers.
  - dredmorbius 2y ago
    Many US commuter-rail trains also have reversible seats. The train crew generally orient these to be forward-facing for the direction of travel, possibly excepting the first seat in a car. (The trainsets reverse directions without being turned around themselves. Those using locomotives rather than electric traction operate in "pusher" mode for half their trips. There's an operator cab in the end car for such trips.)
  - Tor3 2y ago
    They can be rotated, but that's supposed to be done by train personnel when changing directions. That's the primary purpose. The only time you're allowed to rotate them yourselves is when you're e.g. a group of four - then you can have two sets of seats face each other.

Trains accelerate and decelerate relatively often compared to planes where you only really notice changes in velocity at take-off and landing so I don't think it would make a difference

Tor3 2y ago

Japanese limited express trains and the bullet train have very few stops (or none, depending), and the ride is very smooth.. still, my wife (Japanese) can't sit backwards-facing without getting sick. Not sure what causes this.

Aeolun 2y ago
It would not surprise if there was something about human physiology that thinks it’s unnatural to go backwards. Our eyes are in front of our head for a reason.
- Qem 2y ago
  I don't know for sure, but is very common to see parents carrying children facing backwards in their arms, while walking, with no ill effects. No big deal.
  - Aeolun 2y ago
    Sure, but there’s a speed limit to that, and you sort of trust the person holding you implicitly. Not really applicable to an aircraft hurtling along at 300m/s
    - Tor3 2y ago
      But you don't notice that speed.. (ref. Newton and Einstein and others). I agree with those saying it must be psychological.. well, mostly. Sometimes you do physically notice that you're facing backwards. At takeoff, for example. And, to some extent, landing. Maybe when banking too. I haven't tried, obviously (the backwards-facing unfolding seats for the crew would be the place to test this).
flemhans 2y ago
Tangentially related: The seats on Shinkansen trains can be rotated to adapt to the needs of the passengers.
- dredmorbius 2y ago
  Many US commuter-rail trains also have reversible seats. The train crew generally orient these to be forward-facing for the direction of travel, possibly excepting the first seat in a car. (The trainsets reverse directions without being turned around themselves. Those using locomotives rather than electric traction operate in "pusher" mode for half their trips. There's an operator cab in the end car for such trips.)
- Tor3 2y ago
  They can be rotated, but that's supposed to be done by train personnel when changing directions. That's the primary purpose. The only time you're allowed to rotate them yourselves is when you're e.g. a group of four - then you can have two sets of seats face each other.