Here is the skinny: according to new jersey law, (which I am sure is close to the same as in you state) volue 29-30 specifically section 1-5, you will find the following:
A cyclist must ride with traffic and yield to the right of the lane.
A cyclist may utilize as much of the right lane as he sees fit in order to ensure his safety from road hazzards. All motor vehicles must yield to the cyclist. Once beyond the road hazzard, the cyclist is to yeld back to the right of the lane... (something like that but you get it)
Anyway, if only it were that simple. I actually recite this to drivers that clip me or yell at me from their death traps. They ignore it and curse on. Funny, that is really the law, and yet last fall I had a police car run me into the curb as they decided not to wait in traffic any longer and drive over the side walk with two wheels. No kidding. When I glared back with my two fingers pointing at my eyes and yelling back to them "F**king Look!", he tried to pull me over and called me the a**hole. I continued on my way.
Welcome to New York.