Like many aspects of enforcement, it is a judgment call when you see it going down. I have jumped in (on my black and white) to assist groups in the past, relieving non-police "road guards" and holding an intersection for a cycle of the signals to let a group go through.
I agree that often it is safer to try to keep a group together. A group of 30 bikes can create a lot of problems. As mentioned by Dougmo, the law does not provide any protections for those "managing" traffic or those running the lights. As for funerals.. many cities and counties have ordinances that DO give authority for funeral processions and associated traffic control by non-law enforcement. People doing these types of activities should be informed on what protections and obligations they have when performing those duties.
FYI, when I lead group rides, I try to break them up into smaller groups of 6 to 12 bikes per group. Often I split them up into "fast group(s)" and "slow group(s)" so there is continuity within each group and no one is trying to ride above their head to keep up. I find this helps keep the groups much tighter too.
Years ago, I lead a "fastest" group to Locke from Concord. We actually broke up into 3 groups of 12-15 bikes in each group; slow, fast and fastest.
When we arrived in Locke, one guy gets off and comes over and starts yelling at me because he couldn't keep up on his new H-D bagger! I told him (in front of everyone), "I guess next time you won't be riding with the fu*#*ing fast group, 'cause you joined the gawd-damned fastest group and I will only apologize for not going fast enough.. I definitely will not apologize for going "too fast" because you damn well could have dropped out and waited for the “old-lady” group to come along!" :mad
