Reader's Digest recently performed a "politeness" test in 35 major world cities. Guess who's on top? New York...that's right, it's a fallacy that New Yorkers are rude! I have been going there my whole life and rarely when I need help, or receive service do I get rudeness. New Yorkers speak their mind, which can be taken incorrectly as being rude, but if you need something or are being served - you usually will be satisfied.
Mumbai finished last by the way. No surprise for me there. I am pretty sure that this is a cultural thing. I know many Indian guys, and while most were pretty nice, they had behaviors that I would consider rude, especially in regard to women.
My 2 cents