Well, it’s finally happened. I have decided to have a rant following my ride in to work this morning. As I’m sure many of you are aware, there have been rumours of petrol stations asking bikers to remove their helmets when filling up with fuel.
In the sunny chill of this November air, I rocked up at the pump and selected my chosen Octane tipple. “Pump 2, remove your helmet!”, bellowed across the pa system in a rude, unpleasant tone. I begrudgingly complied, filled up and went inside.
I could hear an argument breaking out as I went toward the desk to pay. Another fellow biker was arguing with the manager about his similar experience. I decided to have my say and cited the many reasons why this was a ridiculous request. I asked whether Muslims were required to remove their veils (and helmets), or why no other garage in my nine years experience had made a similar request. (I didn’t mention that asking him to remove his own turban was as stupid a request).
The manager aggressively argued with me that ‘the law was the law’ and they had to do it. I continued to put forward my views and challenged his - until, after five minutes or so, he admitted it was not the law but at the attendant’s discretion. Moreover it was done to ensure that youngsters (presumably those under 16) would not turn up and fill up their mopeds whilst being underage. How could they get a moped in the first place! I left, angry and late for work.
This has been bubbling about for a while. MAG got hold of it and did a ride out to visit BP (I think this was the brand) in an area and for all bikers to fill up with fuel at all the pumps after removing lids and gloves…It got the point across I believe.
ok if it’s merely just about being polite then no. If we are asked to remove our helmets, there could be a good reason. That particular establishment may recently have been raided by helmeted thugs (report recently re peeps on scooters in london doing this). Dont take it personally.
Same thing happened to me in Raynes Park/Esso garage. The thing is, I can understand why this may more of an issue at night (security reasons and frightened attendant etc) but broad daylight, mid-ride out …I don’t want to be hanging around as well as holding up everyone behind me.
This can only lead to flustered bikers, pushing their bikes to one side so they can ‘kit up’ and slipping on some petrol spillage (probably from the scooter dudes who overfilled when nicking their batch)!
I can only see problems!
Phrases containing mole hills and mountains spring to mind though
What difference does it make? They already have your reg on CCTV. It’s pointless, it’s discrimination because they can. As long as you weren’t desperate for fuel, I’d have ridden down the street to the next station.
BP on the A40 after hanger lane tried to make me take my lid off. When he realised he was holding up a queue of 8 people wanting to pay and I was standing in the forecourt screaming (muffled) “what the f*ck for?”, he relented. I usually take my lid off anyway, out of courtesy, but not this time.
I bet they can’t ask you to take your balaclava off (like a veil/turban etc). So, take your helmet off, leaving your balaclava on. That will surely teach them!
A pain in the arse it is but sorry, i’m in agrrement with the attendant bloke.
How many shlts on stolen bikes and scooters ride in fill up and shoot off? loads i bet and also how many robberies have happened when the bloke walked in with a crash helmet on? again loads i bet, or just scrotes nicking stuff in the shop bit.
Unfortunatly them scrotes have made us suffer.
I go to same pet station regularly and cos of this they know me and dont ask for me to take helmet off.
I had it happen to me down in Hastings, I had the wife on pillion she had got off the bike and took her lid off as she was going inside for a P, I just lifted the pump to fuel up and I got this spotty little kid on the till screaming at me to take my lid off!!!
Now that was just stupid. Needless to say I told him to stuff his petrol and held up the queue waiting for the misses to come out from using the loo.
But I can understand why it is becoming more common, they just need to use a bit of savey.
It’s a long on going thing. I wont take mine off and if I’m told over the PA to, then I get back on the bike and leave them to pick the pump up off the floor. It’s the same as telling you to go inside and pay for petrol before you fill up… Like crap will I!
Astonished by that I was. Heading into France for the first time on a bike (after 6pm) and they want you to march in there and give them your license. Then you walk out. Then you fill up. Then you return to pay and are given your license back with a beret drawn on your head and a moustache for good measure.
Why can’t the whole world be a perfect surface with great corners like a race track (with no gaypeds) and bikes could convert air into high octane fuel?
Well I’ll be damned if I’m not with you 110% on that one, Ang!
The one that amazes me though are the ones that ask you to take you’re lid off AFTER you’ve filled up and are waiting in the queue to pay. Eh??? Go f*** yerself, you want this money or not, ya simpleton
Do what I do, cup your hand by your ear when they bellow at you in the internatonal language of “I cant hear what you are saying” they soon tire of doing it and let you pump away.
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