Most of the problems in the American suburbs can be dealt with by lowering living standards a bit as rdf suggested. For example putting two families in one McMansion and leaving 50% of the suburban infrastructure to rot. We can't sustain all those roads even today. Both people "for and against" peak oil like to harp on the "unwillingness" of the American public to engage in social change as my above example would require. Of course when economic necessity dictates it change will absolutely happen. Not many Americans are willing to die to save the suburbs.

Actually, in a scenario where oil production is really on the decline, American suburbs in the midwest might not be such a terrible place to be, as they are all adjacent to extensive farmland.

In a centuries-long energy crisis I don't know if I'd prefer to be living in the US or Europe - both face problems that look unsolvable today. If anything I'd prefer to be rich.

you are the media you consume.