I prefer being able to leave the bike lane at will and merge with other traffic in order to cross lanes to turn or to stop mid-block.

However, as others have pointed out it's an experiment and I have to hand it to Manhattan they're trying to make the city work for bikes and oddly enough it's the private automobile drivers who I predict will eventually come to feel marginalized.

I'm an open minded skeptic on this particular configuration and will definitely give it a shot when it's complete and I am next in NYC.