I spent a week and a few days in new york (manhattan) this summer and it was amazing. It was really nice knowing I could hop on the subway and be anywhere in 30 minutes. I was really surprised about the amount of cyclists and how easy it would be to ride there on a bicycle. I aways had this "OH WOW! That must be insane to ride there!" but people deal with cyclists on a daily basis and traffic is much more predictable with the one ways.

In the smaller town here there is a certain element that is a little like "WHY THE HELL IS THAT CYCLIST ON THE ROAD" as they either tailgate you for a block and a half, or pass on the other side of the road like you are a leper. People have a hard time reacting to cyclists and have made for ****ty situations for those who chosen to live car light. I don't think I've gone out riding and either had somebody yell at me (the whole "get a car, ***" thing) or getting stuff thrown at me (batteries etc) Granted, while riding in Minneapolis I feel pretty comfortable with traffic.