A retractable cylindrical safety marker, comprising: (a) a base, comprising: a middle section defining an upper planar surface and two opposing edges; a first end section rotatably attached at an end to one of the opposing edges of the middle section; and a second end section rotatably attached at an end to the other of the opposing edges of the middle section, - wherein the base has a closed configuration when the end sections are folded near to the middle section, and - wherein the base has an opened configuration when the end sections are folded away from the middle section, and (b) a vertical riser, comprising: a lower riser having a lower end attached to the first end section and the second end section, and an upper riser positioned within the lower riser, - wherein the risers are moveable perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a flattened configuration and an expanded configuration, - wherein the risers are moveable along the longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, characterized by - the lower riser having a slot extending along its interior surface in the longitudinal direction; and - the upper riser having a tab positioned on an outer surface thereof, the tab being mateable with the slot and configured to permit the tab to translate along the slot. (a) a base, comprising: a middle section defining an upper planar surface and two opposing edges; a first end section rotatably attached at an end to one of the opposing edges of the middle section; and a second end section rotatably attached at an end to the other of the opposing edges of the middle section, - wherein the base has a closed configuration when the end sections are folded near to the middle section, and - wherein the base has an opened configuration when the end sections are folded away from the middle section, and a middle section defining an upper planar surface and two opposing edges; a first end section rotatably attached at an end to one of the opposing edges of the middle section; and a second end section rotatably attached at an end to the other of the opposing edges of the middle section, - wherein the base has a closed configuration when the end sections are folded near to the middle section, and - wherein the base has an opened configuration when the end sections are folded away from the middle section, and - wherein the base has a closed configuration when the end sections are folded near to the middle section, and - wherein the base has an opened configuration when the end sections are folded away from the middle section, and (b) a vertical riser, comprising: a lower riser having a lower end attached to the first end section and the second end section, and an upper riser positioned within the lower riser, - wherein the risers are moveable perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a flattened configuration and an expanded configuration, - wherein the risers are moveable along the longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, characterized by - the lower riser having a slot extending along its interior surface in the longitudinal direction; and - the upper riser having a tab positioned on an outer surface thereof, the tab being mateable with the slot and configured to permit the tab to translate along the slot. a lower riser having a lower end attached to the first end section and the second end section, and an upper riser positioned within the lower riser, - wherein the risers are moveable perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a flattened configuration and an expanded configuration, - wherein the risers are moveable along the longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, characterized by - the lower riser having a slot extending along its interior surface in the longitudinal direction; and - the upper riser having a tab positioned on an outer surface thereof, the tab being mateable with the slot and configured to permit the tab to translate along the slot. - wherein the risers are moveable perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a flattened configuration and an expanded configuration, - wherein the risers are moveable along the longitudinal axis of the vertical riser between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, characterized by - the lower riser having a slot extending along its interior surface in the longitudinal direction; and - the upper riser having a tab positioned on an outer surface thereof, the tab being mateable with the slot and configured to permit the tab to translate along the slot.