It's definitely a multi-faceted problem. As you say, you usually need higher density to support more frequent, smaller format stores. Although you do see some

It's definitely a multi-faceted problem. As you say, you usually need higher density to support more frequent, smaller format stores. Although you do see some smaller grocery stores in the US: Aldi, Lidl, and Trader Joe's come to mind. I live close enough to a Safeway, Trader Joe's and a Whole Foods for biking to be viable, and I have an ebike, but I don't bike there. Why not? The bike infrastructure is shit to get there, and parking lot/front of store area is not designed for bikes at all. Fix those two things and I'd start biking.