Yes it's worse in the winter when we have a tendancy to keep warm in the bus exhaust...

The East River MUP starts at 23rd St, right at the Marina gas station by the Waterside apts.. The section from 34th to 23rd is a bit treacherous, they've got you going against the traffic coming off the FDR heading for the tunnel. The parts by Houston are a bit messed up but for the most part it's a decent ride, there are some sections where the bikes are separate from the pedestrians. Or at least the pedestrians who can read.