Big Apple Rules
Three special urban rules I learned a long time ago for riding the avenues of New York City:
1. Watch the right front tire of every car that is abreast of and/or passing you. As soon as that tire starts to turn to the right, hit the brakes or escape to the right.
2. Watch the sidewalks not just the street. (a) Pedestrians jaywalking can kill you or themselves by stepping in front of you. Either they didn't see you because they were looking for cars or they saw you but assumed you were going at the speed they go when twiddling on their bike. (b) If you see a person standing on the curb with their hand up, immediately check to your left and behind for that cab that is about to go right through you to pick up that fare. It's nothing personal, they just have the same specific image targeting as the jaywalkers.
3. Ride like you were driving a car in that environment. In NYC, that means riding as fast or faster than the motorized traffic, up to even diving into every opening in the traffic to advance your position. If you act like a car (on NYC avenues more cabs than anything else) you are less likely to slow drivers down and you are in the flow of drivers' traffic expectations. Except for the mythical psychopath, drivers just don't want to be delayed by your slower moving vehicle, so your hesitation infuriates them.