Banned motorist charged with drunk driving on a gas-powered bicycle

A man police say is banned from driving for life owing to impaired driving convictions is facing charges after he allegedly rode a gas-powered bicycle while impaired in Brockville, Ont., on Thursday evening.

About 6:10 p.m. Brockville police officers noticed a man having trouble braking on the bike and stopped him.

He was riding a bicycle equipped with a gas-powered engine and clutch, which police said qualifies as a motor vehicle.

"While speaking with the man, it was obvious to [the officers that] he was under the influence of alcohol," Brockville police wrote in a media release issued Friday.

Further investigation revealed he was disqualified from driving for life because of previous impaired driving convictions, police said.

The 41-year-old man was arrested and is facing charges including impaired operation of a motor vehicle, refusing to provide a breath sample and driving a motor vehicle while being disqualified from doing so.

He was released from custody on a promise to appear in court at a future date.