That's what I meant by "it takes planning to..."

If bike commuting is important to you, then look for a home (and/or job) in an area that's bike friendly. I didn't end up with a 10 minute bike commute by accident, though it did take some compromises. Instead of a 2000 sq ft 3 bedroom house in the next county, I ended up in a 1000 sq ft 2 bedroom condo close to work. The condo was a bit more expensive, but I'm saving more money overall by not paying for an expensive car (~$700/month average [1]).

It's within easy biking and/or walking distance of 2 train stations, as well as schools, restaurants, grocery store, etc. And due to the proximity of the train station, several transit oriented developments are being built nearby so the area is becoming even more walkable.

Bike infrastructure is woefully in adequate in this country, so the onus is on individuals to make it work, since housing in many areas is so bike-unfriendly that it may never be made bikeable.

[1] http://newsroom.aaa.com/2015/04/annual-cost-operate-vehicle-...