It really is just asphalt with paint. Not even proper signs. At least from this one picture I wouldn't have expected an intersection there.

As an American the top picture is very typical of less urban areas. The bottom looks very a-typical around my parts.

That's almost every suburb in the US and Canada. It's sad.

it's a very very common result of car-centric design, people just can't be arsed to put even the slightest hint of effort in.

It's not even remotely unique to america, there's plenty of it all over the world, and i frankly think it's almost as big of a problem as the car-centric aspect itself. It makes places look so fucking miserable and dead.

Hey I don’t want to mow that, pave it.

Hey I hate stroads and car brained infrastructure too but honestly fuck mowing lawns, I relate to that instinct.