My name is Oran G. Cone.
On Nov. 3, the downtown area of Los Altos had to be evacuated and closed off to all traffic for several hours. Seems like a gas main was punctured by a wayward backhoe across the street from Safeway.
My group was among the first responders to keep citizens and their trusted bowsers safe and sound. All of my colleagues were on the job and in place blocking off every entrance to downtown. For what seems like years you have seen us in all sizes all over town clad in the same colored uniforms.
Our life as traffic cones is one of purpose, from our creation to multiple uses on roads where we serve as temporary, visible markers to guide traffic safely. Our lifespan can range from a couple of years for standard models to several years for high-quality ones, depending on our material and durability against weather and wayward bumpers. We will eventually be replaced when we become faded, brittle, or damaged. Some of our newer relatives have adopted what they think is a cooler name. Just call them Pylons.
As you are zipping around Los Altos and its vicinity, you might not know that we were invented in 1943 by Charles D. Scanlon, who sought a more durable and visible alternative to fragile wooden markers. One wrong turn turned our wooden markers into splinters.
Modern cones are made from durable, weather-resistant materials like PVC and recycled rubber, often with UV-resistant properties and weighted bases for stability.
We are deployed to warn of hazards, redirect traffic, or create temporary barriers, playing a crucial role in safety during construction, accidents or other events.
We can last for several years, but our lifespan can be shortened by harsh weather conditions, impacts and fading from UV exposure. Over time, we can become brittle, lose our reflective bands, or sustain damage, which necessitates our retirement.
We work for the government and moving or tampering with us is illegal and considered a theft or an interference with public safety equipment.
Yes, we deserve a round of applause for our role on Nov. 3. You will see us around town for months to come as Los Altos replaces all of its underground veins, mains, pipes, stripes and curbs in our ongoing reconstructed Burb.
