Spatial Understanding

It is almost a month since I came here and I am still struggling with my spatial understanding of this place. Normally, I have some kind of idea about the directions such that I can atleast point which way any known place lies. But my sense of direction has been completely fogged since I came here. I often have to look at the sun to get some sort of understanding. :)

I was trying to figure out this perceived lack of comprehension while travelling in the subway today. It was then that I realised that because of the banking, the compartment rolls a certain degree. This helps us in our understanding of the direction. Subway compartments do not roll on turns. So one gets a feeling that he is always travelling in a straight line. Which makes me wonder whether it is the suspension of the compartment which comes into effect or is it the wheels with flanges on both sides? The latter looks more improbable from the point of view of design considering the high speeds and subsequent stresses involved.

What do you think?