Children Mobility, Schools and Public Space: A Research Case in Ferrara

This paper examines the relationship between children’s right to the city and urban mobility, with a focus on school proximity as a key spatial and social factor in promoting active mobility and spatial justice. Despite growing interest in child-centred design and school mobility policies, urban environments remain largely shaped by car-centric planning, perpetuating inequality and limiting children’s autonomy. Based on a case study in Ferrara, Italy, this research emerges from a collaboration between the Department of Architecture at UniFE and the local Mobility Agency to address mobility challenges at the municipal level. It explores the potential of School Zones as a strategy for fostering safer, more inclusive mobility. A spatial and perceptual analysis of eight school environments reveals the dominance of car-oriented infrastructure and the prevalence of individual travel habits, both of which restrict children’s independent access to school and their engagement with public space. The study concludes with a focus on the Cosmè Tura School, proposing design interventions to enhance accessibility, spatial quality, and the school’s connection to its surrounding neighbourhood.