Funicular geometry

Funicular geometry is an actual thing, and not just a clever title for my square of Angels Flight in downtown Los Angeles. I know what geometry is and I know what a funicular is, but I am not sure I completely understand this description of ‘funicular geometry’!

Funicular geometries, which follow the idealized shapes of hanging chains under a given loading, are recognized as materially efficient structural solutions because they exhibit no bending under design loading, usually self-weight.

Now I have since found better explanations but I wish Robert was here. He always knew how to explain things like this to me. He’d have loved Angels Flight too.

This is the second site that Angels Flight has operated on. The first site closed in the 1960s after nearly 70 years of service and then the second site re-opened here in 1996. Apparently it is not just a tourist attraction, commuters use it to travel up to the California Plaza. I decided it was quicker to walk up the steps alongside it than wait for the next car. It only travels 298 ft with a gradient of around 33%. However it was fun to see.

What is also fun is all your fabulous Geometric Squares. Only a week left of GeometricJanuary, so if you haven’t yet joined us you might want to use this weekend to square.