Greenspace after petroleum: from freeways to greenways

George Seddon (1972: 230) once observed that “parkland would probably . . . succumb . . . to the motor car [because] . . . parklands . . . have a fatal charm for freeway engineers.” In the car-dominated and oilfueled twentieth century, this notion seemed inevitable, but in a post-oil future, the converse may well be true. Although it might not be the first suggestion that comes to mind when considering the urgent imperative imposed by peak oil planning, greenspace will be a vitally important concern this century. Five reasons for this follow.