A Mississauga man has been charged with impaired driving after police in Guelph came across an e-bike rider who’d fallen and hurt himself while operating the motorized vehicle on Tuesday night.

Guelph Police said the man has also had his driver’s licence suspended for 90 days as electric bikes “are considered motor vehicles under the Criminal Code of Canada and operators are subject to the same impaired driving laws as the operators of any other motor vehicle.”

According to police, an officer found a man lying on the sidewalk near Gordon Street and Nottingham Street shortly after 9 p.m. He was being helped by a passerby.

“Investigation revealed the man was riding his e-bike when he lost control and fell over, with the bike falling on top of him,” police said in a news release on Wednesday, adding the rider was taken to hospital for treatment.

While speaking to the man, the police officer detected an odour of alcohol and “noted signs of impairment,” police added.

The man was arrested after having failed a roadside breath test, with additional breath samples showing he had more than the legal amount of alcohol in his system, police said.

A 40-year-old Mississauga man is charged with impaired driving. His licence was suspended for 90 days.

As use of e-bikes continues to grow across Ontario, police remind those who use the motorized vehicles that they’re subject to Highway Traffic Act rules and regulations. They must follow the same rules of the road as cyclists.

In addition, those who ride e-bikes must be at least 16 years old and they have to wear an approved bicycle or motorcycle helmet.

Riders should also be aware that various municipalities may have additional bylaws or restrictions in place that limit where e-bikes can be used, Ontario Provincial Police said earlier.


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