Botts Dots?

[Thomas Smith]

Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

[Eric Opperman]

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

I saw a bunch of them in the Portland, Ore., area.

[william lynch]

Thomas Smith wrote:>>

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else
are they used?

All over the country. As a trucker I see them on all kinds of roads.
In certain areas in certain conditions, they do help a lot.

If we're talking about what I think, they are all over
the Bay Area, also.

[Richard]

william lynch wrote:>>

Post by william lynch

Thomas Smith wrote:>>

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where
else are they used?

All over the country. As a trucker I see them on all kinds of roads.
In certain areas in certain conditions, they do help a lot.

If we're talking about what I think, they are all over
the Bay Area, also.

Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

[william lynch]

Post by Richard
william lynch wrote:>>

Post by william lynch

Thomas Smith wrote:>>

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where
else are they used?

All over the country. As a trucker I see them on all kinds of roads.
In certain areas in certain conditions, they do help a lot.

If we're talking about what I think, they are all over
the Bay Area, also.

Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

Then the Bay Area is infested with them. White ones between
lanes, yellow to divide the road, red to tell you that you're
going the wrong way, blue for fire hydrants. Millions of 'em.

[Steve]

Post by william lynch

Post by Richard
william lynch wrote:>>

Post by william lynch

Thomas Smith wrote:>>

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where
else are they used?

All over the country. As a trucker I see them on all kinds of roads.
In certain areas in certain conditions, they do help a lot.

If we're talking about what I think, they are all over
the Bay Area, also.

Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

Then the Bay Area is infested with them. White ones between
lanes, yellow to divide the road, red to tell you that you're
going the wrong way, blue for fire hydrants. Millions of 'em.

Not quite. They're not the reflecting things in the road at all. What
they are, are raised plastic mounds embedded in the roadway. They are
more physical than visual, and have the same effect as rumble strips -
but they also serve as nonreflective lane markings.

[william lynch]

Post by Steve

Post by william lynch

Post by Richard
william lynch wrote:>>

Post by william lynch

Thomas Smith wrote:>>

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where
else are they used?

All over the country. As a trucker I see them on all kinds of roads.
In certain areas in certain conditions, they do help a lot.

If we're talking about what I think, they are all over
the Bay Area, also.

Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

Then the Bay Area is infested with them. White ones between
lanes, yellow to divide the road, red to tell you that you're
going the wrong way, blue for fire hydrants. Millions of 'em.

Not quite. They're not the reflecting things in the road at all. What
they are, are raised plastic mounds embedded in the roadway. They are
more physical than visual, and have the same effect as rumble strips -
but they also serve as nonreflective lane markings.

That's what I thought, and that's what we have. I almost
crashed when I hit one on a bike.

[Compañero Señor Yämamøto]

They can be pretty deadly. I've seen more than on poor bastard tear up a
low-rider trying to cross over those things. I've seeb Botts dots in TX and
AZ, too.

For anyone interested go to http://thaiwatcharawis.com/plastic.htm for a
site on reflecting road studs(cat's eyes), and
http://www.jenkins-ip.com/mym/spring2000/t_news01.htm has a short bit about
the invention of cat's eyes and why you can't use the term Catseye®

--
Compañero Señor Yämamøto BFMAP, SALF, FLAP, RSP, FSB
http://mr_yamamoto.50megs.com
http://infoshop.org
"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if
it is called "the People's Stick." - Mikhail Bakunin

Post by william lynch

Post by Steve

Post by william lynch

Post by Richard
william lynch wrote:>>

Post by william lynch

Thomas Smith wrote:>>

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where
else are they used?

All over the country. As a trucker I see them on all kinds of roads.
In certain areas in certain conditions, they do help a lot.

If we're talking about what I think, they are all over
the Bay Area, also.

Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

Then the Bay Area is infested with them. White ones between
lanes, yellow to divide the road, red to tell you that you're
going the wrong way, blue for fire hydrants. Millions of 'em.

Not quite. They're not the reflecting things in the road at all. What
they are, are raised plastic mounds embedded in the roadway. They are
more physical than visual, and have the same effect as rumble strips -
but they also serve as nonreflective lane markings.

That's what I thought, and that's what we have. I almost
crashed when I hit one on a bike.

[Justin Rhodes]

Post by Steve

Post by william lynch

Post by Richard
william lynch wrote:>>

Post by william lynch

Thomas Smith wrote:>>

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where
else are they used?

All over the country. As a trucker I see them on all kinds of roads.
In certain areas in certain conditions, they do help a lot.

If we're talking about what I think, they are all over
the Bay Area, also.

Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

Then the Bay Area is infested with them. White ones between
lanes, yellow to divide the road, red to tell you that you're
going the wrong way, blue for fire hydrants. Millions of 'em.

Not quite. They're not the reflecting things in the road at all. What
they are, are raised plastic mounds embedded in the roadway. They are
more physical than visual, and have the same effect as rumble strips -
but they also serve as nonreflective lane markings.

I-10 in Tucson has them. Parts of US 60 in Mesa and Apache Junction
still have them, AFAIK

[John David Galt]

Post by Richard
Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

Nope. Botts Dots are round, nonreflective "bumps", which were often used in
sets of four per "dash" to either supplement, or replace, painted lines on
roads. They were often used at the edges and center lines of winding roads
because they'd noticeably rattle your windows if you drove over them (and
rumble strips didn't exist back then).

A lot of California roads still have them, but they eventually wear out and
Caltrans is not replacing them or installing any new ones, AFAIK. They are
still installing the reflectors, but those serve a different, mainly visual,
purpose.

[Brent]

<<A lot of California roads still have them (Botts Dotts), but they eventually
wear out and Caltrans is not replacing them or installing any new ones, AFAIK.
They are still installing the reflectors, but those serve a different, mainly
visual, purpose.>>

That's pretty far from the truth, from what I've seen. CalTrans put down new
Botts Dotts along 101 on the peninsula, and for the new lanes in South San
Jose. New Bott Dotts on I-880, and CA 237 too. And again, new Bott Dotts on
I-680 southbound along the Sunol Grade.

[Mark Roberts]

Brent <***@aol.com> had written:
| <<A lot of California roads still have them (Botts Dotts), but they eventually
| wear out and Caltrans is not replacing them or installing any new ones, AFAIK.
| They are still installing the reflectors, but those serve a different, mainly
| visual, purpose.>>
|
| That's pretty far from the truth, from what I've seen. CalTrans put down new
| Botts Dotts along 101 on the peninsula, and for the new lanes in South San
| Jose. New Bott Dotts on I-880, and CA 237 too. And again, new Bott Dotts on
| I-680 southbound along the Sunol Grade.

And new ones on CA 1 between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. That
segment is being resurfaced this summer (and the work was
continuing as of yesterday).

[Brent]

<<<Interesting. How about CA-17 in the mountains, which used to have themon
all its stripes? Last time I was there, most of the dots had worn away.>>>

I'm not quite sure. I haven't been on CA 17 for several months. I might be
going to Santa Cruz on Sunday, so I'll let you know about the status of the
dots on Highway 17.

[william lynch]

Post by Brent
<<<Interesting. How about CA-17 in the mountains, which used to have themon
all its stripes? Last time I was there, most of the dots had worn away.>>>
I'm not quite sure. I haven't been on CA 17 for several months. I might be
going to Santa Cruz on Sunday, so I'll let you know about the status of the
dots on Highway 17.

Gary Richards reported a while back that 17 is due for
a major resurfacing. They could be waiting on that.

[william lynch]

Post by Mark Roberts
| <<A lot of California roads still have them (Botts Dotts), but they eventually
| wear out and Caltrans is not replacing them or installing any new ones, AFAIK.
| They are still installing the reflectors, but those serve a different, mainly
| visual, purpose.>>
|
| That's pretty far from the truth, from what I've seen. CalTrans put down new
| Botts Dotts along 101 on the peninsula, and for the new lanes in South San
| Jose. New Bott Dotts on I-880, and CA 237 too. And again, new Bott Dotts on
| I-680 southbound along the Sunol Grade.
And new ones on CA 1 between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. That
segment is being resurfaced this summer (and the work was
continuing as of yesterday).

I may go to LA via 101 this weekend. What is the condition
of the ol' road nowadays?

[Mark Roberts]

william lynch <***@y.z> had written:

| I may go to LA via 101 this weekend. What is the condition
| of the ol' road nowadays?

It's a bit worn in and around Salinas, with construction work on the
Cuesta Grade north of San Luis Obispo and, in the remote parts of
Santa Barbara County between Santa Maria and the Santa Ynez Valley,
exit closures during weekdays. There was also a surprising amount
of traffic between the Five Cities and SLO.

[william lynch]

Post by Mark Roberts
| I may go to LA via 101 this weekend. What is the condition
| of the ol' road nowadays?
It's a bit worn in and around Salinas, with construction work on the
Cuesta Grade north of San Luis Obispo and, in the remote parts of
Santa Barbara County between Santa Maria and the Santa Ynez Valley,
exit closures during weekdays. There was also a surprising amount
of traffic between the Five Cities and SLO.

The traffic might have to do with class starting at
SLO. Who knows. Thanks for the update, Mark.

[Philip DeLaney]

In Ridgecrest, Botts Dotts are used as warning strips at 4-way stops on
China Lake Blvd. When a new 4-way stop was installed about 6 months ago, new
Dotts were installed as well.

Phil DeLaney
Morgantown, WV & Ridgecrest, CA

Post by Brent
<<A lot of California roads still have them (Botts Dotts), but they eventually
wear out and Caltrans is not replacing them or installing any new ones, AFAIK.
They are still installing the reflectors, but those serve a different, mainly
visual, purpose.>>
That's pretty far from the truth, from what I've seen. CalTrans put down new
Botts Dotts along 101 on the peninsula, and for the new lanes in South San
Jose. New Bott Dotts on I-880, and CA 237 too. And again, new Bott Dotts on
I-680 southbound along the Sunol Grade.

[william lynch]

Post by John David Galt

Post by Richard
Those are the reflecting things embedded in the road to highlight the lanes.
Mr. Bott invented them in 1950.

Nope. Botts Dots are round, nonreflective "bumps", which were often used in
sets of four per "dash" to either supplement, or replace, painted lines on
roads. They were often used at the edges and center lines of winding roads
because they'd noticeably rattle your windows if you drove over them (and
rumble strips didn't exist back then).

Since I obviously was mistaken about the reflective bumps,
do those reflectors have a particular name?

Post by John David Galt
A lot of California roads still have them, but they eventually wear out and
Caltrans is not replacing them or installing any new ones, AFAIK. They are
still installing the reflectors, but those serve a different, mainly visual,
purpose.

There are a bunch of the actual Botts Dots newly installed
down here.

[Rte66man]

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

They are all over Texas freeways. Wish OK would use them as well.

Ret66man

[Pat OConnell]

Texas is getting rid of them. I don't recall why, but it's TxDOT policy to
go back to painted stripes. Over the past month they've removed them from
North Central Expressway (US-75) through Dallas.

An educated guess:

If it ever snows in Dallas, and they try to plow, then all those Botts dots
will get scraped right off the pavement. Same with the raised reflectors,
of course. The recessed reflectors don't have that problem, but they get
filled with snow or water.

It rarely snows in Las Vegas NV (which has a lot of Botts Dots on their
roads), but I suspect that when it does, the city just tells everyone to
stay at home until the snow melts. Way too many LV residents don't know (or
remember) how to drive in snow (or rain), anyway.

[Pat OConnell]

Post by Pat OConnell

Texas is getting rid of them. I don't recall why, but it's TxDOT policy to
go back to painted stripes. Over the past month they've removed them from
North Central Expressway (US-75) through Dallas.

If it ever snows in Dallas, and they try to plow, then all those Botts dots
will get scraped right off the pavement. Same with the raised reflectors,
of course. The recessed reflectors don't have that problem, but they get
filled with snow or water.
It rarely snows in Las Vegas NV (which has a lot of Botts Dots on their
roads), but I suspect that when it does, the city just tells everyone to
stay at home until the snow melts. Way too many LV residents don't know (or
remember) how to drive in snow (or rain), anyway.

Not to mention, Pat, that there are no more than three snowplows in
Clark County.

No doubt they're used to plow the street between the Mayor's home (and
maybe the Street Commisioner's home) and his office. That was SOP in
Indianapolis when I lived there.

There's probably a few road graders out there--or are those the snowplows
you're referring to?

More seriously, are the plows used mostly on the Mt. Charleston roads?

[Mr. Mojave]

Post by Pat OConnell

Post by Pat OConnell

Texas is getting rid of them. I don't recall why, but it's TxDOT policy to
go back to painted stripes. Over the past month they've removed them from
North Central Expressway (US-75) through Dallas.

If it ever snows in Dallas, and they try to plow, then all those Botts dots
will get scraped right off the pavement. Same with the raised reflectors,
of course. The recessed reflectors don't have that problem, but they get
filled with snow or water.
It rarely snows in Las Vegas NV (which has a lot of Botts Dots on their
roads), but I suspect that when it does, the city just tells everyone to
stay at home until the snow melts. Way too many LV residents don't know (or
remember) how to drive in snow (or rain), anyway.

Not to mention, Pat, that there are no more than three snowplows in
Clark County.

No doubt they're used to plow the street between the Mayor's home (and
maybe the Street Commisioner's home) and his office. That was SOP in
Indianapolis when I lived there.
There's probably a few road graders out there--or are those the snowplows
you're referring to?
More seriously, are the plows used mostly on the Mt. Charleston roads?

There's one on Kyle Canyon, and one at Mountain Springs. I'm just
guessing, but there may be one at Lee Canyon.

[Dan Hartung]

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in
Southern California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas.
Where else are they used?

Well, reflective lane markers generally are getting quite common. Caltrans says
they still use Botts Dots:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/about/botts.htm

And obviously raised pavement markers are less practical anywhere it snows, so
there are embedded varieties. But it conversely turns out that purposely
breaking up the road surface isn't a good idea itself:
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2002/122002/12162002/809117

That doesn't mean the raised type is not used up north, though:
http://www.gazetteextra.com/roadwork071603.asp

mail me via lakefxdan AT aol DOT com

[Cary B. Todd]

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

Alabama: I-165 and on I-10 over the bridge east of Mobile

Texas: on many urban freeways from Dallas to El Paso...Are they still
using them on new freeways though?

Arizona: still a few left on occasional urban freeways in Tucson, and
more rarely in Phoenix. Arizona has discontinued using them. In
Yuma, many city streets are striped with the dots. Also, many small
parking lots for 7-11 and Circle K are striped with Botts Dots.

Oklahoma: there are a few marking crosswalks in Norman.

Nevada: on nearly every road I've driven on in Nevada (Clark County).

Thank you
Cary

[NCC31911]

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

On I-4 just north/east of downtown Orlando there are Botts Dots AND painted
lines. Why there are both, I don't know.

Also in Orlando, on SR 50/West Colonial Dr there are Dots for a few miles west
of Tampa Ave. Dots only, no painted lines.

I wouldn't mind seeing Dots used more in Florida. It would make driving in
torrential downpours a little less nerve-wracking since the heavy rains can
obscur the lines on the pavement.

[temptation waits]

Post by NCC31911

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

On I-4 just north/east of downtown Orlando there are Botts Dots AND painted
lines. Why there are both, I don't know.
Also in Orlando, on SR 50/West Colonial Dr there are Dots for a few miles west
of Tampa Ave. Dots only, no painted lines.
I wouldn't mind seeing Dots used more in Florida. It would make driving in
torrential downpours a little less nerve-wracking since the heavy rains can
obscur the lines on the pavement.

SR A1A in Daytona Beach Shores uses them, I think.

I swear I've seen metal ones on US 17 near I-295(??) in Orange Park.

[temptation waits]

Post by NCC31911

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

On I-4 just north/east of downtown Orlando there are Botts Dots AND painted
lines. Why there are both, I don't know.
Also in Orlando, on SR 50/West Colonial Dr there are Dots for a few miles west
of Tampa Ave. Dots only, no painted lines.
I wouldn't mind seeing Dots used more in Florida. It would make driving in
torrential downpours a little less nerve-wracking since the heavy rains can
obscur the lines on the pavement.

If they look like what I think they look like, then SR A1A in Daytona Beach
Shores uses them.

I swear I've seen some metal ones (if they're even related) in the Orange
Park area on US 17 northbound near I-295 (I think).

[Brandon Gorte]

Post by Thomas Smith
Just where are "Botts Dots" in use? I know they are used in Southern
California to a limited extent, in Hawaii, and in Las Vegas. Where else are
they used?

Reflective markers on the pavement.

We don't use them here as they'd be removed with the first snowfall.
Instead, we used imbedded reflectors in IL, IN, MI, and WI along with
reflective paint.

-Brandon