Okay, so not only are we using a lot of oil, but we're using more of it each year. and by "we", I mean Earth.

At this rate, it might only be about 10-20 years before we start seeing oil wells drying up (the whole Peak Oil thing). So, let's just say that in 2018, on the ides of March, the Saudi oil system runs dry. The pinch is felt immediately as other wells go double time to pick up the slack, and they, too, shortly run dry.

First, our trucking industry runs on diesel. At the very least, we wouldn't need to do much conversion to get them running on Bio-d. Next, most bus line infrastructures are already on, or moving to, alternative fuels (lpg, electric, etc). Most gasoline engines can run on ethanol if needed, and that may pick up a little of the slack. The air industry goes under, but, it's halfway there already. Bike shops, particularly specialty bikes (like folders, haulers, and multi-passenger), take off like crazy.

The thing that bothers me is that we are currently producing greenhouse gasses and soot in roughly equal proportions. The soot causes global cooling, and is part of the reason that solar isn't working as well as it could. But when the oil burns stop, The soot gets removed pretty quickly, and suddenly, we have all the greenhouse issues in one fell swoop.

I'm thinking that the old wood-burning rail system could help this out. Also, with extra carbon dioxide AND a lot of sunlight we're gonna see a lot of plants and a LOT more rain. [More sunlight and more heat on a planet with 70 surface water means a lot more clouds, higher energy clouds]

In short, other than a couple of years of struggle and a lot of rain for a while, I don't see a problem with surviving the oil economy. But if I had to put a pin in it, I'd say that an electric bike company would be a wise, long-term investment.