I’ll take that over bikes / scooters on the pavement any day.
Perhaps my view is skewed by the fact that I’m usually faster than a (frequently stopping) bus so at most I’m annoyed when it comes to overtaking.
Now local authorities are making deals with Chinese scooter-rental companies, and little scooter parks are popping up on the footway all over town. I nearly got knocked down by a rental e-scooter just yesterday - I was walking on the footway, the scooter zoomed past me with 3" clearance.
I disapprove of local authorities making deals with retailers (advertising hoardings on the footway) and scooter firms to "monetise" space that's supposed to be reserved for pedestrians.
Except the app specifically tells you, after you send it a picture of your driving license to unlock the scooter, that you’re only allowed to ride it on roads <= 30mph and cycle paths.
I try to avoid brushing past people on the pavement/footway/sidewalk; these obstructions make the footway one-way, so I just have to wait until the path is clear. This becomes insane if there's also a bus stop - the bus queue takes up all the space that's left after the scooter parks and signboards have taken their bite. I have to step into the carriageway.
...
That definitely works.