[aga98mtl]

And yet, European cities exist and are fine without wide streets.

[eru]

Keep in mind that Europeans tend to build with stone / bricks, and Americans tend to build with wood.

Lots of safety regulations stem from that divide. Wood is a bit more flammable.

(I'm not saying the difference in safety regulations still make sense today. I'm talking about one of the historical origins of the divide.)

[jenadine]

In the north of Europe it is mostly wood

[eru]

Houses are still less likely to be build from wood than in the US.

[Gravityloss]

apartment buildings are made from prefabricated concrete elements though