Car vs. Bicyclist Incident Highlights Ashland’s Sidewalk Riding Ordinance
ASHLAND — Ashland Police Division officers, along with the Ashland Fire Department and EMS, responded early Wednesday morning to a report of a car-versus-bicyclist crash at the intersection of East Main Street and Steele Avenue. The call came in around 7:30 a.m. No injuries were reported at the scene.
According to the dispatch report, the collision involved a Grey 2016 Subaru Outback driven by Cameron Nicodemus and an E-bike operated by Prakash Tamang, 28. Investigators determined Tamang was traveling westbound on the south sidewalk of East Main Street near Steele Avenue with the electric motor engaged. The location falls within a designated business district, where riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited under city law.
Nicodemus was stopped at the East Main Street stop sign at Steele Avenue and began initiating a right turn when his vehicle struck the left side of Tamang’s E-bike. Tamang, who was wearing a helmet, was not injured. Both parties exchanged information and agreed the minor damage did not warrant formal repair or additional reporting.
A third-party caller who did not witness the collision but saw Tamang getting up afterward contacted 911. Officers documented the incident and collected insurance information from Nicodemus. Tamang was warned for riding an E-bike on the sidewalk within a business district and informed of the applicable city ordinances.
Ashland’s Law on Sidewalk Riding
Ashland Law Director Richard P. Wolfe II provided clarification following the incident, referencing City Ordinance 373.11, which outlines the rules regarding bicycles and similar devices on sidewalks:
“Here is a copy of Ordinance 373.11, which prohibits bicycles and similar devices being ridden on sidewalks in business districts,” Wolfe said. “Business districts within the City are established by ordinances and shown on a City Zoning Map. For areas outside of business districts, the issue of right-of-way must be decided on a case-by-case basis upon review of the applicable facts and law.”
Under the ordinance:
No person may ride a bicycle, skateboard, or similar device upon sidewalks in business districts.
In non-business areas, riders must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking them.
A first violation is a minor misdemeanor; repeat offenses within one year can rise to fourth- or third-degree misdemeanors.
As more residents in Ashland and surrounding communities turn to electric bicycles for daily transportation, the city emphasizes the importance of knowing where these devices are permitted. The ordinance aims to protect pedestrians in high-traffic commercial zones while allowing cyclists to share sidewalks safely in residential areas when necessary.
ACP News obtained surveillance video of the incident, which confirms the E-bike was traveling along the sidewalk prior to entering the intersection. The footage will remain part of the department’s documentation of the event.
No further action is expected, and both parties were released from the scene without citation.
