I have to agree with him on this. The tarmac runoff areas are .... for bikes, and have nothing to do with safety. They were dressed up as a safety exercise, but it was always about letting guys rejoin the circuit without finding their cars beached and having their day ended.
If any New Yorkers could give me a low down on safe areas in Manhattan/Brooklyn/Queens?
Is Harlem/Bronx really as bad as made out, where would be good if traveling to work in mid town?