Southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong, banned electric bikes in main downtown areas as of Monday to reduce related traffic accidents.

Electric bikes should be put off roads in districts including Futian, Luohu, Yantian, Nanshan and Bao'an, the city's public security bureau said in a statement Monday.

The ban will be effective till December 5 when the city authorities will review it to see if further ban is needed, it said.

Electric bike riders will be persuaded off roads this month and face fines of 200 yuan starting next month.

Statistics showed electric bikes were blamed for 64 deaths in 268 roads accidents last year.

The city has over 500,000 electric bikes and the ban is believed to greatly increase the operational costs of express delivery companies.