Here is the bottom line... the cyclist is in his rights... but stark reality trumps rights.
"I'm not sure I agree that it's a safer practice to ride down the middle of an unlit 50 mile per hour road in the dark, than the right side of the road."
Even the side of the road in this case is likely questionable. The road apparently has a rather poor shoulder, but "taking the lane" on an unlit single lane high speed road at night is just asking to be plowed into by the next cell phone distracted motorist...
Rights don't trump physics...
I support the cyclist, but I am also practical in nature, and understand that such a location is far from from ideal. Motorists are notorious for driving distracted... and no amount of blinkies will save this cyclists life under those circumstances.
The ticket is unwarranted, but the reality is taking an unlit narrow fast road at night is just asking for trouble... cycling statistics emphasize this over and over again.