"Facing" vs "Back" to direction of travel.

[Mag_seven]

Today rather than sit in several free bays of two "back" to direction of travel, a fellow passenger elected to sit next to me on an isle seat "facing" direction of travel (also a bay of two). This got me wondering - why do people prefer facing direction of travel even if that means less privacy?

 

[bramling]

Today rather than sit in several free bays of two "back" to direction of travel, a fellow passenger elected to sit next to me on an isle seat "facing" direction of travel (also a bay of two). This got me wondering - why do people prefer facing direction of travel even if that means less privacy?

Hard to put my finger on it, but I *hate* facing backwards, and will avoid as far as reasonably possible.

 

[alxndr]

I'm the opposite, where possible I sit back to the direction of travel as it tends to be less crowded in that part of the train, and also find it easier to focus on things out of the window.

 

[Senex]

I always go for window facing if I possibly can -- I prefer to be able to spot things coming (mileposts, other track features, etc) so as to be ready to pick up the detail, rather than to watch things receding into the distance.

 

[westv]

I couldn't care less which way I face.

 

[najaB]

I always go for window facing if I possibly can -- I prefer to be able to spot things coming (mileposts, other track features, etc) so as to be ready to pick up the detail, rather than to watch things receding into the distance.

I'm the opposite - I find it easier to figure out what I'm seeing when it starts big in my field of view and gets smaller.

 

[PowerLee]

Prefer to face backwards as its safer in the event of a front on collision.

 

[Agent_c]

I think people find it feels less natural to move facing backwards.

that said, if the train is going to suddenly stop, do you want a padded seat, or a whole lot of air between you and the front of the train?

 

[ilkestonian]

I'm not sure how true this is, but our biology teacher reckoned it was more relaxing and less stressful facing backwards.

Facing forwards, the eye muscles are continually tightening to focus on things approaching, which can lead to headaches and eye strain, whereas watching things recede relaxes the muscles.

 

[Mojo]

When travelling First class, I prefer to sit facing the direction that staff are most likely to approach from. On Pendolinos for example this means sitting facing backwards leaving London and facing forwards heading towards London.

 

[cf111]

I have a slight preference for sitting backwards.

 

[dviner]

In the morning, direction doesn't matter as long as it's a window seat with the window on my left (so I've more freedom of movement for my right elbow while doing the Metro's Sudokus).

 

[talltim]

I don't care, although I normally end up standing facing sideways. Went the Crich recently, most trams seemed to have had seats that change direction by variety of mechanisms, seemed a bit pointless to me.

 

[Antman]

Prefer to face backwards as its safer in the event of a front on collision.

Funnily enough on all the train journeys I've embarked on over the years I've yet to experience a front on collision, I've never been struck by lightning either

 

[desk_wizard]

RAF transport flights have the seats facing backwards for this reason

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I prefer to face forwards, ideally in an airline style seat, to the extent that I'll even stand if all the forward facing seats are taken but there are several backwards facing seats available...

 

[trainophile]

I prefer forwards, but an aisle seat as I don't like being squashed against the side of the train, especially by a big bloke with a thick overcoat on! Also I have eyes that are sensitive to any degree of glare, and avoiding the window seat cuts down the chance of bright sunlight reaching my face.

I prefer going forwards as the "thrust" of the train tends to push me back against the seat back, which is more comfortable than the equivalent sensation when going backwards, which causes loss of back support and is generally less relaxing.

I must agree with the OP though, about how annoying it is when someone sits next to you when there are plenty of other seats free. Happened to me yesterday in Liverpool, and as I had picked one of the end-of-coach double seats that have no space between the seat and window, nor between seat and adjacent seat, when a large woman plonked herself next to me I got up and moved elsewhere. Whereupon she managed to occupy the entire double seat on her own!

 

[Essexman]

Prefer to face backwards as its safer in the event of a front on collision.

Do you take measures to reduce other miniscule risks encountered in your life?

 

[centraltrains]

Personally; I get travel sick sitting backwards! Nothing worse being on a train where all the forwards seats are taken, plenty of reverse ones so have to stand!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It is said to be safer facing backwards in the event of a collision, but this doesn't factor in the barrage of unsecured items that would hurtle towards you in the highly unlikely event of such a catastrophe. In particular facing seats without tables would mean whoever was sitting opposite you would be launched at you head first.

I prefer to face backwards but mainly because there's more chance of the seat next to me staying empty because most people prefer to face forwards. More important to me is being on the "six-foot" side of the carriage, obviously this doesn't apply on single lines. What I really can't abide is facing sideways while seated, I'd rather stand if that's all that's available.

 

[Mordac]

I prefer going forwards as the "thrust" of the train tends to push me back against the seat back, which is more comfortable than the equivalent sensation when going backwards, which causes loss of back support and is generally less relaxing.

I think this about sums it up. I couldn't put it into words until you just described it thus, but that's exactly what the issue is. To be honest it doesn't bother me that much in most modern trains, but I still prefer it for the reasons described. It can seriously annoy me in subway trains in my native Lisbon, or God forbid on buses, where I will stand rather than face backwards.

I actually care a lot more about this than whether it's an aisle or window seat, so even though I understand the operations reasons that make it the case (which VTEC seems to not have to deal with but w/e), it really annoys me that more TOCs don't offer it as an option.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I prefer going forwards as the "thrust" of the train tends to push me back against the seat back, which is more comfortable than the equivalent sensation when going backwards, which causes loss of back support and is generally less relaxing.

I'm not sure how that works - since clearly the train is not moving when you get on, and it's not moving when you get off. So the total amount of deceleration during your journey - in which you'd lose back support if facing forwards, but gain back support if facing backwards - must exactly equal the total amount of acceleration. It may be that there's a difference in perception because deceleration is perhaps slower - spread out over a longer period of time?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I prefer facing forwards, don't know why, but I would go for backwards over no window view or if it meant not sitting next to someone.

Allegedly it'd be safer if aircraft seats faced backwards, but it's said that passengers wouldn't find that acceptable psychologically.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I never like travelling backwards on trains. I always prefer a forward facing window seat. I usually spend all of my train journeys looking out of the window, either appreciating travelling over a new route, or more commonly thinking to myself about where I am and specific landmarks to look out for along the way.

 

[fowler9]

I know a lot of people who say they feel sick travelling backwards. Could be to do with what your inner ear is telling you is happening contrasting with what your eyes see. I really don't know. Surely your eyes see the same thing. Who knows. I prefer facing the direction of travel just because I like it. Regarding aviation I have heard it is safer facing backwards, when a plane stops really quickly I am doubtful as to how much difference it has ever made to anyone in that unfortunate situation.

 

[bb21]

I prefer facing forwards, don't know why, but I would go for backwards over no window view or if it meant not sitting next to someone.

Allegedly it'd be safer if aircraft seats faced backwards, but it's said that passengers wouldn't find that acceptable psychologically.

Wouldn't be very comfortable at take-off I would imagine.

I am agreed on the window view front. No view is worse than either forward or backward facing imo.

Do you take measures to reduce other miniscule risks encountered in your life?

It isn't much of an effort opting for one seating direction over the other.

 

[Western Lord]

RAF transport flights have the seats facing backwards for this reason

I believe that that is no longer the case. The VC10 was the last type with rearward facing seats.

 

[krus_aragon]

Personally; I get travel sick sitting backwards! Nothing worse being on a train where all the forwards seats are taken, plenty of reverse ones so have to stand!

Interestingly, my wife's experience is the opposite. On a long journey, she copes better going backwards.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Them's the vagaries... #hmhb

 

[swidnod]

RAF transport flights have the seats facing backwards for this reason

Hi Gang,

No RAF Transport aircraft have had rear facing seats since the retirement of the VC10 a number of years ago.

Stu from EGDL.