Alice Ferguson
@aliceferguson.bsky.social
Co-founder of Playing Out movement for children’s freedom and right to play out in the streets and spaces where they live. Bristol, UK.
#SafeStreetsNow #PlayStreets #YesBallGames #KidicalMass www.playingout.net @playingout.bsky.social
#SafeStreetsNow #PlayStreets #YesBallGames #KidicalMass www.playingout.net @playingout.bsky.social
Yup really cool Lena Dunham / @netflix.com - way to glorify the kind of driving that kills pedestrians. #TooMuch @thewaroncars.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Yup really cool Lena Dunham / @netflix.com - way to glorify the kind of driving that kills pedestrians. #TooMuch @thewaroncars.bsky.social
I’ve exercised my right to peacefully protest in the UK a lot over my lifetime: CND/Greenham in the 70s (as a child), anti-apartheid in the 80s, stop the war in 2000s, on and on. Today is the first time I’ve felt scared of being arrested, just for showing up. #FreePalestine @stwc.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I’ve exercised my right to peacefully protest in the UK a lot over my lifetime: CND/Greenham in the 70s (as a child), anti-apartheid in the 80s, stop the war in 2000s, on and on. Today is the first time I’ve felt scared of being arrested, just for showing up. #FreePalestine @stwc.bsky.social
As a counter-point to this (remember this??)
July 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
As a counter-point to this (remember this??)
This makes me sad every time I walk past. Local school playground - an increasingly precious safe, car-free space for children - is opened up at half-term and weekends for cars, but not for children to play. What message does this send? @playingout.bsky.social
May 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
This makes me sad every time I walk past. Local school playground - an increasingly precious safe, car-free space for children - is opened up at half-term and weekends for cars, but not for children to play. What message does this send? @playingout.bsky.social
Unbelievable. Even when a car has been deliberately used as a weapon in a horrific violent crime with tens of victims (including children) *and* the perpetrator is named, the BBC can’t break the habit of using the passive tense.
May 30, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Unbelievable. Even when a car has been deliberately used as a weapon in a horrific violent crime with tens of victims (including children) *and* the perpetrator is named, the BBC can’t break the habit of using the passive tense.
That looks like two junctions near me *after* being redesigned (by council) for a safer route to school!! And without the zebra of course.
May 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
That looks like two junctions near me *after* being redesigned (by council) for a safer route to school!! And without the zebra of course.
The Lord Mayor seemed to like it!
May 21, 2025 at 10:59 AM
The Lord Mayor seemed to like it!
On my way into work this morning I saw this, on a rare “home zone” in Bristol, where cars do not have priority.
Imagine the time and energy this must have taken! Imagine the sense of belonging, of “my space, my street, my community”. Imagine if all children had this. @playingout.bsky.social
Imagine the time and energy this must have taken! Imagine the sense of belonging, of “my space, my street, my community”. Imagine if all children had this. @playingout.bsky.social
May 19, 2025 at 1:53 PM
On my way into work this morning I saw this, on a rare “home zone” in Bristol, where cars do not have priority.
Imagine the time and energy this must have taken! Imagine the sense of belonging, of “my space, my street, my community”. Imagine if all children had this. @playingout.bsky.social
Imagine the time and energy this must have taken! Imagine the sense of belonging, of “my space, my street, my community”. Imagine if all children had this. @playingout.bsky.social
You won’t hear about it in the media but 400,000 people of all ages, religions and backgrounds marched together through central London yesterday, demanding an end to genocide. #FreePalestine #Nakba77 @stwc.bsky.social
May 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
You won’t hear about it in the media but 400,000 people of all ages, religions and backgrounds marched together through central London yesterday, demanding an end to genocide. #FreePalestine #Nakba77 @stwc.bsky.social
Sorry not sorry to be one of those smug “look what I can carry on my bike” people - but look what I can carry on my bike! 😊
May 8, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Sorry not sorry to be one of those smug “look what I can carry on my bike” people - but look what I can carry on my bike! 😊
Ok Edinburgh, I take it back. Having wandered further afield today, it’s feeling groovy. And I caught the tail-end of #criticalmass!
April 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Ok Edinburgh, I take it back. Having wandered further afield today, it’s feeling groovy. And I caught the tail-end of #criticalmass!
‘Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine’ by Samar Abu Elouf for @nytimes.com is #WPPh2025
Over 15,000 Gazan children have been killed, over 34,000 injured, and nearly 1 million repeatedly displaced and deprived of their right to basic services - @unicef.org
Make it stop. Free Palestine.
Over 15,000 Gazan children have been killed, over 34,000 injured, and nearly 1 million repeatedly displaced and deprived of their right to basic services - @unicef.org
Make it stop. Free Palestine.
April 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
‘Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine’ by Samar Abu Elouf for @nytimes.com is #WPPh2025
Over 15,000 Gazan children have been killed, over 34,000 injured, and nearly 1 million repeatedly displaced and deprived of their right to basic services - @unicef.org
Make it stop. Free Palestine.
Over 15,000 Gazan children have been killed, over 34,000 injured, and nearly 1 million repeatedly displaced and deprived of their right to basic services - @unicef.org
Make it stop. Free Palestine.
Returning to #Edinburgh after a few (ahem 30) years, was expecting to see a much-improved walking/cycling environment. Instead, still huge expanses of tarmac to cross, painfully slow pedestrian lights and ne’er a cyclist in sight! What’s up with that?
April 17, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Returning to #Edinburgh after a few (ahem 30) years, was expecting to see a much-improved walking/cycling environment. Instead, still huge expanses of tarmac to cross, painfully slow pedestrian lights and ne’er a cyclist in sight! What’s up with that?
Do people realise that 75,000 children are killed on the roads *every year* whilst outside walking, cycling, playing? I have to admit, I didn’t. How can we tolerate this? @unicef.org www.unicef.org/media/167696...
March 28, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Do people realise that 75,000 children are killed on the roads *every year* whilst outside walking, cycling, playing? I have to admit, I didn’t. How can we tolerate this? @unicef.org www.unicef.org/media/167696...
A few years ago, I sat on this stoop with Fred Kent and @ethankent.bsky.social, chatting about our work and children’s freedom to play out. This inspiring film captures Fred’s passion for community-led placemaking and his deep belief it can change the world. www.placemakingx.org/the-place-ma...
March 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
A few years ago, I sat on this stoop with Fred Kent and @ethankent.bsky.social, chatting about our work and children’s freedom to play out. This inspiring film captures Fred’s passion for community-led placemaking and his deep belief it can change the world. www.placemakingx.org/the-place-ma...
Or even better, block the pavement where you are only inconveniencing and endangering pedestrians (ie not real people)…
March 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Or even better, block the pavement where you are only inconveniencing and endangering pedestrians (ie not real people)…
And of course now the sun has gone behind a huge cloud 😁
February 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
And of course now the sun has gone behind a huge cloud 😁
Friday is my non-work day so just settling down to read this with a coffee in the 🌞Amazing launch party last night brought together the worlds of architecture, planning, policy and play. 🙏 @dbornat.bsky.social for nod to @playingout.bsky.social & parent activists - and HUGE 🎉🎉🎉
February 28, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Friday is my non-work day so just settling down to read this with a coffee in the 🌞Amazing launch party last night brought together the worlds of architecture, planning, policy and play. 🙏 @dbornat.bsky.social for nod to @playingout.bsky.social & parent activists - and HUGE 🎉🎉🎉
These statistics jump out. Vast majority of children think that it’s easier for those with money, those with cars and adults to get around. They clearly see the injustice. 2/3
February 26, 2025 at 9:45 AM
These statistics jump out. Vast majority of children think that it’s easier for those with money, those with cars and adults to get around. They clearly see the injustice. 2/3
My office for the day, thinking about children and streets. Thank you @wshed.bsky.social
❤️ Bristol
❤️ Bristol
February 22, 2025 at 11:05 AM
My office for the day, thinking about children and streets. Thank you @wshed.bsky.social
❤️ Bristol
❤️ Bristol
I love a bit of undesignated urban space. So many possibilities for people and play, sitting and moving. But undesignated & *unprotected* space just becomes car space. Deploy bollards! @worldbollardassoc.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I love a bit of undesignated urban space. So many possibilities for people and play, sitting and moving. But undesignated & *unprotected* space just becomes car space. Deploy bollards! @worldbollardassoc.bsky.social
So Ayr in Scotland wins the prize for most Victorian reason children aren’t playing in the Street. 🐀🐀🐀@playingout.bsky.social
February 18, 2025 at 7:55 AM
So Ayr in Scotland wins the prize for most Victorian reason children aren’t playing in the Street. 🐀🐀🐀@playingout.bsky.social
Not agreeing with the whole OP! Of course we have symbolic road signs and need to learn them. But “bus gate” - especially for older drivers - is less clear than “buses only” and gives more reason for drivers who breach it to feel unfairly penalised. What’s the benefit?
February 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Not agreeing with the whole OP! Of course we have symbolic road signs and need to learn them. But “bus gate” - especially for older drivers - is less clear than “buses only” and gives more reason for drivers who breach it to feel unfairly penalised. What’s the benefit?