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Same, I'm fine with electric scooters as long as 1) their max speed is something roughly along the lines of 20mph and 2) they behave like safe cyclists do, e.g. doing shoulder checks and the like.
SwissChap-
UK law is not fine with electric scooters. Anything with a motor (except for certain vehicles used by people with mobility difficulties: https://www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-rules) requires a licence to be used in the public realm. I'm sure some people can ride these scooters when they buy them, but you're still putting someone in charge of quite a fast vehicle without any test.
The incidents described by TedMaul and Chak sound very serious, and added to that is the problem with an unregistered vehicle in the hit-and-run that Chak witnessed. I'm sure you know the main reason why drivers think pedal cycles ought to have number plates--drivers fear being hit by someone piloting an unregistered vehicle which may be very difficult to trace, if at all. This scooter rider committing a hit-and-run offence is very close to that scenario. That's not even to mention how, not entirely unlike certain bike riders, the people in these two cases are clearly a danger to themselves as well as to others. (Always with the caveat that drivers kill and maim far more, etc.)
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doing shoulder checks and the like.
On a scooter? LOL.
They're all wearing their Beats by Dre headphones that provide a force field on the left and right so they don't need to.
Oliver Schick
hippy
Met launched a mini-crackdown on them recently. It's classed as driving a motor vehicle with no insurance and it carries a £300 fine and 6 pts on your driving licence.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/met-s-safety-team-target-dangerous-electric-scooter-riders-on-the-roads-and-pavements-a4118041.html
I don't mind them using the cycle lanes but at full whack they go a bit too fast and the riders never shoulder check when they move or indicate IME