The Road Rules define various words in the text as well as in the Dictionary ("Dic.") at the end of the Road Rules. A cyclist is included within the definition of "rider", which is a "person who is riding a motor bike, bicycle, animal or animal-drawn vehicle" (Road Rule (RR) 17(1)). This does not include a passenger or a person walking beside and pushing a bicycle (RR.17(2)).

A bicycle is defined in the Dictionary as:

The definition of a "wheeled recreation device" (a "wheeled device, built to transport a person, propelled by human power or gravity [or in the case of a scooter, propelled by a person pushing one foot against the ground, or by an electric motor or motors, or by a combination of these] and ordinarily used for recreation or play") includes rollerblades, rollerskates, a skateboard, a scooter that is not a motor vehicle, or similar wheeled devices (Dic.). It does not include a golf buggy, pram, stroller or trolley, or a bicycle, wheelchair or wheeled toy, or a scooter that is a motor vehicle (Dic.). Persons riding wheeled recreation devices are considered to be pedestrians (RR.18). Some rules relating to pedestrians are covered later in this chapter (see: "Use on footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths and bicycle lanes").

The riders of scooters, although considered to be riding "wheeled recreation devices" have been singled out for greater protection. See below for further discussion.

RR.19 states that all references to "driver" and "driving" in the Road Rules include a reference to "rider" and "riding", unless otherwise stated. Therefore, cyclists are subject to the general road rules that govern all traffic on the road and, in particular, to the rules governing speed limits, pedestrians and traffic control devices (signs and signals). Cyclists are also subject to the same level of on-the-spot fines as motorists for failing to:

There are also a number of rules dealing specifically with bicycles and their riders, generally found in Part 15 of the Road Rules.

The Road Rules apply to vehicles and road users on roads and road-related areas (RR.11). However, these terms are quite broadly defined (RR.12 and 13), a "road" being "an area that is open to or used by the public and is developed for, or has as one of its main uses, the driving or riding of motor vehicles" or any area declared under the RSA. A "road-related area" includes footpaths, nature strips, areas that divide roads, and areas that, while not roads, are open to the public and designated for use by cyclists or animals or used by the public for driving, riding or parking motor vehicles.

The following summary of the law is in three parts. The first relates specifically to bicycles (how they should be ridden, roadworthiness, helmets, use of bicycle carriers); the second relates to skaters; and the third covers the general road law concerning stopping and turning behaviour as it applies to bicycles.