@hideki where I live this isn't the case at all. I have two grocery stores within 1 mile of me, another 4 within 3 miles, three hardware stores, two movie theaters, a shit load of restaurants and other shops, and it's all pretty much intertwined with the rest of the suburbs. It's really nice. Plus, the public transit is available pretty much everywhere, including an Uber clone that works off the same fee as the bus/train so you can pay $5 and go from the outside of your neighborhood all the way downtown if you want.

I still ride Uber just because I'm not a huge fan of public transit and I'm willing to pay the premium, but the option is totally there.