BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- China postponed applying new standards concerning electric bikes, or battery-powered bikes, the country's Standardization Administration announced on Wednesday.

    The new standards issued last week by the administration was set to take effect next year, but the new rules had met heated public debates.

    According to the new standards, design of electric bikes should weigh over 40 kg and travel at a speed more than 20 km per hour but less than 50 km per hour. This suggested riders of such bikes would need licenses to travel, the same as motor bike riders.

    The new regulations aroused quite a stir among the public, with some arguing battery-powered bike riders would be put in a dangerous position if they traveled along with motor cars on the same lane.

    But pedestrians and bike riders too are exposed to possible life risks as the fast-moving electric bikes are treated in the same way as normal bikes, others argue.

    The new rules, if applied, could also mean the worst news for over a thousand small manufacturers and dealers of such bikes as they were concerned the new standards were too strict.

    Media reports recently also say consumers are hesitant about whether to buy such bikes as they fear the bikes would not meet the new standards.

    Under these debates and the public pressure, the Standardization Administration announced on Wednesday postponement in implementing the new standards.