NYC is like that, too. I picked Jessica up at 6am on a weekday on 34th st, on our way to JFK. Nobody there. Pretty nice time to drive through.
I can't imagine wanting to drive there at many other times! Not even any drunk people wandering back to Grand Central after a big night out?
No, 6 am seems to be the magic hour. Drunks all safely home by 5, respectable people not out and about until at least 7.
I thought the experiment in disaster was referring to New Haven... oops.
Upper E/W side there must be some ratdog-walkers.