Abstract: A safety gate for restricting passage of a child through an access way such as a doorway or stairwell. The gate has two barrier panels in a parallel, overlapping arrangement that can be relatively adjusted to different combined widths to fit in different access ways. The gate is mounted on one side by contact pads or hinges, and can also be mounted pivotally on a telescoping pole vertically disposed on one side of the access way. The gate is frictionally secured or closed by extendable and retractable engagement feet adapted to forcibly engage the access way side wall. The engagement feet are controlled by an outwardly motivating extension mechanism connected via a reciprocating linkage with the engagement feet, which provides for reflexive engagement of both feet with approximately equal force, even in access ways having vertically uneven widths.