I live in and really like Alameda for a few reasons:

-3 bike shops within walking distance of my house
-BART, AC Transit transbay buses, and 2 ferries to SF
-Good shopping/dining/drinking on and around Park Street
-Close to Oakland/Berkeley hills
-active advocacy group BikeAlameda

Worth checking out, though it's not for everyone. I moved here because I got a good job here and dislike long commutes.