Shanghai transport authorities are denying media reports that said tens of thousands of electric scooter owners will have to be licensed to ride their bikes.

The State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIS) on Saturday published a list of vehicles that must be registered, and electric scooters were not excluded.

This led the Legal Daily on Monday to report that all electric scooters that exceeds 20 kilometers an hour will need to be registered and riders will have to be licensed.

AQSIS's list includes motorcycles that can exceed 50 kilometers per hour and unlike its similar list published in 2004, electric scooters were not given a specific exclusion from the licensing requirements.

The Shanghai Transport and Port Authority said the news report jumped to an erroneous conclusion.

"The new standard, unlike the previous one, does not exempt electric bikes, but that does not mean riders will need a license," said Huang Xiaoyong, an authority press officer.

Shanghai traffic police also confirmed that they will not ticket unlicensed scooter riders.

"Shanghai is drafting a new standard to regulate electric scooters as there are loopholes," Huang said, adding that the new regulations will help ensure rider safety.

Shanghai traffic police said there were more than 600 reported traffic accidents involving electric scooters in 2011.

Authorities in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, also denied that electric scooters will need to be licensed and insured.