The Jersey Barrier: An Intentional Object

Jersey barriers - we get that they’re barriers, but why Jersey?

After doing a bit of searching, it became clear that not only was there as definite answer, but that the subject has been covered in several different places.

Will that stop us from covering it again? Not a chance.

The Jersey barrier is referred to as such because it was developed in the 1950s at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey under the direction of the New Jersey State Highway Department to divide multiple lanes on a highway.

This, albeit (sort of) interesting, is pretty standard fare for a historical genesis story. Problem exists, thing is invented to reduce instances of problem, occurrences of problem are reduced.

Image of a Mark Gonzales frontside tailblock via a really great piece on the Chelsea Banks in Manhattan in Transworld Skateboarding

Yet a much more interesting element of the history of these objects, an element that’s extremely applicable to the readership of this newsletter exists (description via Wikipedia):

The design of the Jersey barrier was specifically intended to minimize damage in incidental accidents and reduce the likelihood of a car crossing into oncoming lanes in the event of a collision. In common shallow-angle hits, sheet-metal damage is minimized by allowing the vehicle tires to ride up on the lower sloped face. Head-on vehicle collisions are minimized by gradually lifting the vehicle and pivoting it away from oncoming vehicles and back into traffic heading in its original direction.

one more time:

gradually lifting the vehicle and pivoting it away from oncoming vehicles and back into traffic heading in its original direction.

Image via Northern Embassy

You read that right: the express purpose for which the Jersey barrier was designed is, not coincidentally, the same purpose that allows them to be used for skateboarding.

These safety devices were made to push a set of wheels up and into a vertical position and then back down to the ground (see wallride marks in image above for visual proof of this movement pattern).

Piero Suarez, frontside boardslide transfer. Image via Vans Skate on Twitter

The use of a Jersey Barrier for skateboarding is much closer to the original use than the alternative use you may have considered them to be. The addition of a little quick dry cement? A minor modification for a smaller set of wheels.