Parents screaming at their children to get out of the way of speeding vehicles, cars parked all over the kerbs and neighbours barely on nodding terms. It’s a typical scenario in many of the world’s cities, suburbs and even small towns. But if an enlightened band of planning experts, traffic engineers and community activists has its way, it’s one that will soon be eradicated.

Take Mina Road in St Werburghs, Bristol, in the UK. The 45 families who live on it recently secured £12,500 to narrow the once busy road to a single running lane wide enough to let cars and bicycles pass safely, to introduce parallel parking and to install planters to distract drivers into slowing down.