It is indeed paved over. I’m sure there are reasons, but probably not good ones given potholes like this. Aside from initial cost, for large vehicles+higher speeds. IMO seems a bit like gluing carpet over wooden floorboards (which is another anger-inducing thing, especially if you’ve lived in a house with a carpeted bathroom).

Not Just Bikes has a video on brick roads in the Netherlands (the bricks being called Klinkers, video called Natural Handcrafted Artisanal ... Streets?!), how they allow easier maintenance/re-use, brick designs instead of painting the surface after, worn klinkers used in historic areas etc.

Must not know about asphalt yet…

I wonder if someone has/will make a fell for Todd’s lies again award meme with the bewildered guy wearing an Iron_Helmet_(Skyrim). Probably needs some real headlines/reviews (well, aside from Starfield).

“Subscribe to our service!” “No.”

“Why not?” “…I don’t want to.”

“But you have no viable alternative.” “I don’t care.”

“That… doesn’t make any sense!” “Too bad.”