This seems to be a problem with the suburbs. If you want to live within walking distance to the grocery store, move to somewhere within walking distance of the grocery store. I can walk to three (different chains), and take the L to one more. (I still take my bike, though, much easier!)

I agree. If you get a chance, James Howard Kunstler's "The Geography of Nowhere" is an interesting read about this and other travesties of modern architecture and infrastructure.