A T&A report on E-cargo bikes which will soon be rolled out on Bradford’s streets has inspired reader VINCENT FINN to get in touch.

A joint bid by Bradford Council, Leeds Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority will see funding for 32 bikes, 10 of which are coming to Bradford.

The bid, made to the Department for Transport and Energy Saving Trust, followed a report which found that E-cargo bikes - electric bikes with large storage spaces - were faster and more efficient at making deliveries in built-up areas than vans, and are also a cheaper, greener and more sustainable form of transport.

Some of the bikes in Bradford will be included in the Council’s vehicle fleet, and some will be loaned to local businesses.

One E-cargo bike is already based at Lister Park, and has been successfully used to help maintain the park.

Two others E-cargo bikes purchased last year are being managed by Capital of Cycling which is using them for its own activities and also plans to loan them out to businesses and other organisations.”

Writes Vincent: If you read this article it reads like a new idea! When I was at school there was a company called Initial Towel Supply. Their headquarters were at the bottom of Maudsley Street, just at the end of Percival Street, off Leeds Road.

So what, you ask? They delivered all their towel goods in a bike just like this one. The bike was painted red and had the name Initial Towel Supply on the front and side of the box at the front of the bike

They delivered what you would call “roller towels” to all kinds of customers. You would not see roller towels nowadays - they have been replaced by blow dry machines and paper towels.

Back to the delivery bikes...obviously the delivery jobs which involved riding the ‘box bike’ to all the customers everywhere in the city went to young lads, usually new school leavers

One way, and probably the only way, to get back to the office warehouse in Maudsley Street was to go via Leeds Road - that way the lad could ride the bike to the office.

But every once in a while you would see the odd lad trying to ride up Church Bank. After a few zigs and zags he would have to get off and push it up to the top of Church Bank then he could ride it along Barkerend Road to Garnett Street, and then it was downhill from here.

By the way, Initial Towel Supply ‘s office and warehouse in Maudsley Street had formerly been a Co-op shop.

It later became a mega company and industrial supplier of goods to various industries and the business moved to West Bowling. It may still be in business.

Maybe one of their bikes is now in Bradford Industrial museum.

Who knows, amongst your readers there could be a few who remember the red box bikes used in the city, and some might even remember drying your hands on a roller towel after washing them.

Of course, you would have to pull the towel over the roller to find a dry spot.

And this company think cargo bikes are a new invention...