Under the Road Rules, a bicycle is a vehicle that has one or more wheels, and built to be propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary motor).

Under these rules, pedicabs, penny farthings, tricycles and unicycles are all considered to be bicycles. However, vehicles such as wheelchairs, wheeled toys and scooters are not considered to be bicycles.

Bicycles may be fitted with an auxiliary source of power provided the motor is not capable of generating a power output of more than 200 watts. If the motor is not the auxiliary source of power, or the motor’s power output exceeds 200 watts, then the bicycle is a motor vehicle. The rider will be required to hold a motorcycle licence and have the vehicle registered before it can be used on the road network, including footpaths and bicycle paths.

Some electric powered vehicles with floor boards are described as bicycles because they have pedals and sometimes belts, chains, or gears. The primary source of power for these vehicles may be the electric motor, and the vehicle not built to be propelled primarily by human power. These vehicles are actually electric scooters. The rider, therefore, will be required to hold a motorcycle licence and have the vehicle registered before it can be used on the road network, including footpaths and bicycle paths.