Since [MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION] mentioned avoiding midtown Manhattan...

I go in the opposite direction, from the northwest edge of Central Park to 34th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison. The routes I usually take register as 4.4 miles in the AM and 5 miles in the PM. In the morning I ride Central Park's West Drive south among lots and lots of runners, a couple dozen or so cyclists ranging from slow-moving folks, a few tourists, commuters, to kitted-out folks on carbon (can hear 'em coming from way back). Sometimes kids are heading to school on scooters. The park is beautiful and the views can be stunning, like when you look across the reservoir to the east with early sun...the air is fresh and it's cooler than the surrounding city. I exit the park at the southern edge at 59th street and head east to Fifth Avenue which I then take south to 34th. On Fifth in the morning I am usually dealing with cabs, delivery/utility trucks and a handful of other commuters. Like Tom, I'd call the traffic in the mornings moderate but some would consider it heavy.

Coming home, I head west on 34th to Sixth Avenue (AKA Avenue of the Americas if you're under 50) and head north to the park. Traffic in the afternoon is another story entirely. Even with a designated bike lane Sixth is very congested and the lane is mostly ignored, particularly by pedestrians. I observe that NYC experiences a certain animosity and tension between cyclists and pedestrians. Being a member of both groups I have to admit that pedestrians possess a high degree of entitlement in Manhattan. I can always expect a stream of pedestrians in the bike lanes at certain points, where conditions are such that the sidewalk is full and pedestrians spill out to use the bike lane as an extension. Irks me big-time. Vehicular traffic is very dense, and I have to be completely present. Cars, taxis, busses, trucks, you name it. Often when I'm on Sixth and walking, I marvel at the fact that during my commute I pass by statues, fountains, even Radio City Music Hall and pretty much never notice them because my radar is on short-gain! Lots of riders, many on bike shares, fellow commuters and what seems to be delivery types. And a lot of what I call rickshaw bikes - tricycles that act as tourist taxis - $1 per minute. Adds up fast I suspect.

In both directions, lots of folks blow the red lights. I'm always amazed more pedestrians don't get hurt. It's embarrassing and I make it into to a machismo thing.

Once I get to Central Park heading north, there's a short while where cars, bikes, runners, rickshaw bikes, skaters and the occasional electric scooter rider all mix it up. The tourist types are the ones to be wary of. They weave and take selfies while riding. They stop unexpectedly. Once the East Drive reaches 72nd street, cars have to exit, the horses and tourists thin out and things calm down a lot. By the time I reach the back side of the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 81st, it's a pleasure. Big green fields, some nice rolling stretches and eventually cross the park at the edge of the North Woods to get back to the west side.

My office is business dress except during the summer months we can wear polos. I ride in whatever I'm wearing at work - jacket and tie. My ride is a vintage steel road bike, I use Chrome Truk shoes for convenience walking and bring dress shoes for the office. Old school toe clips and straps. I have a briefcase-style pannier made by Racktime that looks like a laptop bag and clips right on a standard rack. I have a front rack mounted in case I stop at a store and need to carry a bit more. I have a few tools, pump, stretch cords and zip ties and my work stuff. A Kleen Canteen thermos for my fancy coffee. And a very heavy Kryptonite New York lock. I can't bring my bike in, but there are racks right outside our office. I don't ride if the weather is bad, the subway ride is easy for me too, but riding is a little faster.

Despite the hassle/risk of the traffic especially on the homeward leg, I find commuting in the city exhilarating, efficient and fun. I enjoy the zen-like presence it demands in order to be aware of risk. And I'm always glad I did it.