You swing a leg over it and go somewhere on it. The description is only really applicable when you are on it.
For instance, I cycle commuted today on my cycle, and am a cyclist today, yesterday, I took the motorcycle so was a motorcylist, tomorrow, I may take the car so will be a driver.
ATM I'm sat at a desk so am not a cyclist but an office worker...not a cyclist
All the 'but you're not a real cyclist' comments are just misleading tripe.
If I really want to pigeonhole, real cyclists ride because they enjoy it, not because they want to make some statement to their peers about their green credentials.