Both of my kids grew up in Madison WI. Now they're both in college, car free, and doing fine. This isn't Amsterdam, but the bike infra and urban layout is good enough. You have to choose where to live. There are neighborhoods that are convenient for nearby shopping, and others that are more sprawled.

I don't think it has to be perfect for kids to learn good habits. More important is the parents modeling those habits themselves, and choosing activities that reinforce good habits.