I think there has to be some rational understanding that "human scale" transportation has a place even in the tight urban space.
I have ridden both ebikes and emopeds on the streets of Denver. Most of the street speeds allow this safely but on say on 20th ave from Coors field to I-25 there is virtually not shoulder, car speeds are faster, so I would always get on the side walk even if restricted. I would just ride slow enough to be safe with the pedestrian walkers.
There is not ideal solution. I'm an engineer and the one thing that puzzles me about the scooters is the small wheels combined with speed capability they have is problematic. A sidewalk crack can catch those small wheels and send someone flying where as an ebike wheel just goes right over it. This is not the fault of the scooter makers but people seem to think they are safe to just take these things anywhere without risk (I believe it's natural attrition but some think that is cruel but that's what it is because even on a bike you have to know it's limitations).
The dockless implementations are not likely to work because far too many people don't care if they leave them right in the middle of a sidewalk where others have to step over them. Fixing apathy is not possible because some people will just never care.
