After I had been bicycling for a while. I decided that I would check into the laws for cyclists. Especially when I started doing critical mass, I thought it would be wise to see whether or not we were actually breaking any laws that the police could cite us for.

169.222 Operation of bicycle. ~Copyright 2002 by the Office of Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota.

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citywork/public
works/transportation/bicycles/rulesofroad.html

It is the city of Minneapolis website, and according to the rules (which i have copied below) critical mass does not break any laws. The rules are as follows:

Rules of the Road
Minnesota law gives cyclists the same rights and privileges as motor vehicle drivers. This means you have every right to ride on the road. It also means that when you are bicycling, you should know the applicable traffic laws and act accordingly. The summary (below) of local statutes will help.

General Rules
The same rules of the road that apply when driving a car should be followed when bicycling. Minnesota laws calls for cyclists to ride with the flow of traffic and as close to the right side of the road as practical, except in the following situations: 1) when overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction; 2) when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; and 3) when reasonably necessary to avoid roadside conditions (fixed or moving objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, narrow lane widths) which make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.

Minneapolis cyclists are encouraged to use the designated striped bike lanes where provided.

No headphones! They're illegal on a bicycle.

Right-of-way
Yield to pedestrians. When entering a roadway from some place other than an intersection, yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching the roadway. Even if you have the right-of-way, be prepared to yield if necessary.

Passing
Pass to the left of a slower vehicle. Give an audible signal when necessary before overtaking and passing pedestrians and vehicles. Listen carefully for vehicles overtaking you. Maintain control of your bicycle and your position on the road.

Signs and Signaling
Obey stop signs and traffic signals. Running a stoplight on a bicycle is a dangerous violation. Signal your intentions to let other drivers on the roadway know what you intend to do. Give a hand signal continuously 100 feet before turning to inform other drivers of your intent, unless both hands are needed to control the bicycle.

Biking on Sidewalks
Bicyclists are prohibited from riding on sidewalks within any business district or upon any sidewalk where prohibited by appropriate signage.

Night Riding
Ride after dark only if your bike has a headlight and red rear reflector, as required by law for night riding. Other good ideas not in the law include wearing light-colored clothing or reflective vests and leg-bands. Allow plenty of time for travel and watch for unlit roads, potholes and other nighttime hazards. The key is that you must be visible. While night riding accounts for only about four percent of all bike riding, over sixty percent of bike fatalities occur at night.

When the last Critical Mass was stopped by the police, and once again they demanded that we ride two abreast in the right lane. From MN State Law, 169.222:
(c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.

One such law states:
(from: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/169/18.html)
(3) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on the roadway shall leave a safe distance, but in no case less than three feet clearance, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.

Just a week ago, I was in a bike lane, and a motorist decided that they could feel free to use the lane, even though i was in it. They came so close to me, that i was able to reach my right hand over and rap on their windshield without effort, to let them know i was there. This certainly was less than three feet (and very dangerous to me, since she was running me into a line of parked cars) And this isn't an uncommon occurance. Yet do we see our boys in blue ever come to our rescue? No! But once a month, when we decide to take a nice leisurely ride down our own city streets, in a group large enough to protect us from the otherwise relentless motorists, the police come running to the aid of the motorist! So what they're saying is that automobiles can run around in huge groups, backing up traffic for miles and miles, but when cyclists do it, it becomes criminal?!