I need some direction! Let's say you're traveling BY CAR, and you want the absolute fastest way from Midtown (say, Bryant Park) down to the far West Village/Tribeca (say, Pier 40, where Houston meets West Side Hwy). Which route would you take (at, say, lunchtime on a regular work day)?

Let me preface this answer by saying driving in Manhattan at noon on a weekday is not going to be fast by I suggest that you go west on 41 Street, make a left turn on 9 Avenue. When you get to 14 Street bear slightly left onto Hudson Street. Make a right on Leroy Street and then a left on West Street--one block and you are there.