San Francisco's scooter war: city hits back as 'unlawful' schemes flood streets

City officials send cease-and-desist letters to electric scooter startups, as local residents complain the unregulated schemes are a nuisance

Some people are tossing the scooters into trash cans and lakes. Others are tripping over them on the sidewalk, complaining of broken toes and dangerous collisions.

The San Francisco war over electric scooters - which several startups have dumped on to sidewalks in a competitive rush to launch unregulated rental programs - dramatically escalated on Monday when the city attorney sent cease-and-desist letters, warning that authorities would "impound" the motorized devices to stop the "dangerous" and "unlawful operation".