Ontario has officially granted electric bikes the same access to the streets as standard two-wheelers.

E-bikes will be allowed on most roads throughout the province, but will not be permitted on 400-series highways, expressways or other areas where bicycles are not allowed. Municipalities will be able to decide where e-bikes may be used on their streets, bike lanes and trails.

The Ontario Liberal government has given approval for electric bikes to be allowed on roads, with new safety requirements.

Jim Bradley, Ontario's transportation minister, says e-bikes are "affordable, green and easy to use."

"The McGuinty government is pleased to welcome the e-bike to Ontario's transportation mix," said Bradley.

Sales had been clipping along for e-bikes at his shop until this year, when they plunged to about 50. He's sold three or four times that in years past and believes much of the decline is due to fears the pilot project would end with the bikes getting barred.

In August, Thunder Bay Police Service officers responded to a report of an e-bike crash near Dease Street. The man crashed his bike and was sent to the hospital with minor injuries.

He was later charged with impaired driving.

E-bikes can share the road with cars, pedestrians and other traffic throughout Ontario —with new safety requirements.