Make elements of matrix ones

I created a zero matrix with rectangular elements of 255. My script below is working, but I don't think this is an efficient way to do this. I want to generate 3 bars of varying pixel widths in the north, south, east, west and center of a 248x286 matrix. I would appreciate input on how to optimize the script. Thank you.

A = zeros(248,286); %create matrix of zeros
A(20:60,124:134) = 1 %north: rectangles 40 pixels long and 10 pixels wide
A(20:60,144:154)  = 1
A(20:60,164:174)  = 1

A(70:120,124:130) = 1 %north: rectangles 40 pixels long and 6 pixels wide
A(70:120,140:146)  = 1
A(70:120,156:160)  = 1

A(130:170,124:126) = 1 %north: rectangles 40 pixels long and 2 pixels wide
A(130:170,136:138)  = 1
A(130:170,148:150)  = 1

m = A*255;
imshow(m)
imwrite(m, 'Verticle_bars.bmp')

[KSSV]

Terminate all the lines with semi colon, ;.

Answer 1

[KSSV]

A = zeros(248,286); %create matrix of zeros

A(20:60,[124:134 144:154 164:174]) = 1 ; %north: rectangles 40 pixels long and 10 pixels wide

A(70:120,[124:130 140:146 156:160] ) = 1 ;%north: rectangles 40 pixels long and 6 pixels wide

A(130:170,[124:126 136:138 148:150] ) = 1 ;%north: rectangles 40 pixels long and 2 pixels wide

m = A*255;
imshow(m)

% imwrite(m, 'Verticle_bars.bmp')

[LM]

Thank you very much.

Answer 2

[Chunru]

A slightly simpler version:

A = zeros(248,286); %create matrix of zeros
A(20:60,[124:134 144:154 164:174])  = 1;
A(70:120, [124:130 140:146 156:160])  = 1;
A(130:170, [124:126 136:138 148:150])  = 1;
m = A*255;
imshow(m)