We are all responsible in law for our actions - whether driving a vehicle of some sort or not.
For cars the law insists on insurance, MoT and car tax and criminal sanctions apply. For electric bikes there are no licence, insurance, tax or other impositions providing the speed is limited. There are however still civil remedies.
The argument that rental companies will only rent high quality scooters is plain flawed. The race to the lowest price will ensure that many companies will rent out cheap machines.
It is unclear whether anything will distinguish a rental scooter from one that is privately owned. Different colour? The idea that the police will stop and check documents is risible.
Finally, complaining bitterly that the proposals are ill thought through is nothing more than a ploy to delay (indefinitely?).
One reason why Boris wants to overhaul the Civil Service and Whitehall is that they are consumate professionals in finding barriers to change. As with Brexit (which ever side you took) Boris wants to "take back control" and get things done rather more quickly.
Delay rarely makes decisions better but it does add to cost, uncertainty and wasted effort - eg: airport expansion, HS2, Crossrail, etc. The main benefit from delay is to allow the government to announce a project many times over (as if it's a new idea) rather than just once!
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