If one wants to ride with the least amount of problems
(traffic congestion, pollution, pedestrians, etc); just do
the same thing that some roadies here in NYC do - ride
early in the mornings. For me I'm used to riding in heavy
traffic. From the time I was a kid in Quezon City, Manila;
riding a BMX from neighborhood to neighborhood. To the
time I moved to New York City. Even back in 2010 when I
went back to visit and stayed in Ortigas, Manila; rode
around the city on a mountainbike.
Edit: PS, as others have already mentioned, visit the countryside.