The end of the golden age of oil

Europe is equipped for the end of the oil age, writes Jörg Häntzschel, but America's mobile society will soon become too expensive: "This wild, vast country was transformed by a hyper-efficient metastructure of traffic systems. ... Now, however, traffic flows in this infrastructural organism are slowing to a trickle. The worst hit is air traffic. ... Even in the best of times, Europe never departed from its culture of moderation. By contrast, America must now turn its back on the rampant splurges of the last two decades. The country is in for a bumpy ride. ... Not only does Europe have a functioning public transport system, it can also fall back on its old city structures when necessary. America has practically surrendered itself to oil. ... One day the drive to work will no longer be worthwhile. A paltry rural existence awaits those bereft of their livelihood and freedom of movement. America's map was drawn by cheap oil. Now it is being redesigned."

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