What brand and/or kind of bicycle should i get for inner city commuting?

Question

it will need a place for a basket to tote bags of groceries and books etc.

Answer 1

Most any kind of bike will work, but if you are riding over a few miles a day, then you would want to look at a hybrid bike over a mountain bike.  Bigger wheels roll along easier.

Answer 2

You want a commuter bike, they have bosses for racks and fenders.

Look at these bikes

Trek

Specialized

Giant

Raleigh

Cannondale

There are several others.

http://www.commuterbicycle.com/