we just have shit laws around zoning

Yeah above all else I think that is the biggest issue. There are daft rules about the size of carparks that mean that, what would be a local store in the EU, becomes this vast strip mall in the US with 12 acres of parking lot to walk across so you can get your milk.

You practically need a car to just drive across the vast expanses of car infrastructure. Crossing the road in the US is something you have to plan your day around