In a week where the safety of workers returning home from long shifts once again captures national attention, a worrying incident in Newport has raised fresh questions about the rapid rise in electric bike use on UK roads. For many dedicated shift workers, the journey home should mark the end of a demanding day, not the beginning of a traumatic ordeal. Yet for 33-year-old steelworker Sam Bevan, the path back to his front door became the scene of a shocking collision that left him unconscious, injured and searching for answers.
Mr Bevan, who had just completed a gruelling 12-hour shift at Llanwern steelworks, was making his way home to Fairoak Avenue in St Julian’s, Newport, on the evening of Tuesday, 11 November. At around 7.20pm, as he crossed the road towards his house, he was struck by an electric bike travelling at speed. The impact was so forceful that it knocked both him and the rider to the ground. Disturbingly, CCTV footage shows the e-bike rider quickly picking up the bike and fleeing the scene without offering assistance or calling for help.
For UK workers, particularly those finishing late shifts and navigating dimly lit streets, the prospect of being left helpless on the roadside is deeply unsettling. Fortunately, a neighbour witnessed the incident and immediately contacted the emergency services, providing vital help as Mr Bevan lay unconscious for four to five minutes. Despite eventually regaining his footing and managing to walk into his home, his injuries were far from minor. He was transported first to Royal Gwent Hospital and then to Grange University Hospital for urgent scans, revealing severe concussion, extensive facial bruising and ongoing symptoms including nausea and memory loss.
Speaking after the incident, Mr Bevan described the disorienting aftermath, where the severity of the collision only became clear after he reviewed the CCTV footage. He recounted how he initially believed he had simply collapsed near his door—an assumption he clung to until neighbours and medical staff confirmed the truth. Watching the footage back was, in his words, “surreal”, and the memory gap that followed has only deepened the sense of shock.
For members of The Workers Union and workers across the UK, this incident underscores growing concerns surrounding the unregulated and often unpredictable rise of electric bikes in public areas. Many commuters and shift workers have reported unsafe riding, particularly in residential streets where visibility is low and people are naturally tired after long hours. Mr Bevan highlighted this issue himself, noting that while accidents do happen, the rider’s decision to flee “showed no respect” and placed him at further risk from passing traffic.
This situation is not isolated. Across the UK, reports of e-bike and e-scooter collisions have steadily risen, prompting calls from communities and safety advocates for clearer guidance, stronger enforcement and improved road awareness. For working people who travel at unsociable hours, safe streets are an indispensable part of returning home without fear.
In a poignant show of gratitude, Mr Bevan thanked the neighbours and friends who supported him—Jason for providing the CCTV, Melanie for attending to him in the street, and several close friends and family who guided him through the immediate aftermath. Their swift action likely prevented his situation from worsening.
As the investigation continues, Mr Bevan has urged anyone with information to come forward, emphasising that he does not want another person to suffer a similar ordeal. For now, he remains signed off work as he continues his recovery, but his message resonates strongly across working communities: more must be done to improve safety in our streets, particularly at times when workers are most vulnerable.
