First and foremost pick an area to live that offers credible and available transportation alternatives when walking or biking won't be sufficient. Consider that weather, health, time and distance constraints will seriously restrict the practicality of depending 100% on either a bicycle or walking. Depending on a bike for 100% of transportations needs, unless living in a closed-in tight community with all amenities like a military base is forcing very limited lifestyle options on everyone in the family.