Asda Yeovil ! another one

[Milky]

Ive only ever been told it's for security reasons so that my face is on camera

"please can you remove your burka before you pay for your petrol"

http://operationitch.files.wordpress.co ... /burka.jpg

I'd like to see that one

[Bladerunner]

I have always assumed that the only reason they ask you to remove your helmet harks back to the out of date stereotype of biker gangs (mods/rockers etc), and bikers generally being unpleasant criminal types, hence you may rob the place and they would not be able to identify you.

Only twice have I ever been asked to remove my helmet at petrol stations, both times before they switched the pump on, and on both occasions I simply put my gloves back on and left, and have never ever returned, either in my car or on my bike. One of these times was at a garage that I used regularly in my car, and for groceries / munchies etc, so their loss really.

I just figure that I will not accept being treated like a criminal whilst enjoying my favourite hobby because of some out of date stereotype. As has already been pointed out all petrol stations have ANPR now anyway so what's the problem? Besides which I spend thousands of pounds on my bike and kit, which as I have mentioned is my hobby, so I am hardly likely to rob £15 worth of fuel. If I ran a petrol station I would be more concerned about chav scum in their poorly modified Fiestas, as they are probably far more likely to steal - or is that just a stereotype?

[jam]

Is removing ones helmet such an injustice?

Bikes are a popular target for thieves, and bike run on petrol, so eventually theyll need to fill up, wouldnt it be marvelous if someone who'd stolen YOUR bike got asked to remove their helmet, providing an picture of their face for the police to run through usual suspects.

Forecourts across the UK have been using the ANPR system since March 2006, so if your bike is reported stolen itll show up immediately as stolen, and with mateys helmet removed and him most likely paying on card as everyone does, be able to confirm it isnt you (the owner) have evidence he was riding a stolen bike and be able to prosecute, and youll get your bike back.

I dont understand why people whinge and whine about such trivial matters, its for your own good and you know it.

That is utter testicles, the logical conclusion of that theory is to have everyone on the national DNA database from birth. afterall it's for your own good!! Fuuck that it's another basic infringement of civil liberties and yet another attempt to criminalise the law abiding majority, making the assumption that all are guilty until proved otherwise. THAT is not democracy it is a draconian dictatorship.

[billinom8s]

If I ran a petrol station I would be more concerned about chav scum in their poorly modified Fiestas, as they are probably far more likely to steal - or is that just a stereotype?

nope, chavs are scum

[payner]

anybody ever visited the texaco service station on the exeter road from alphington heading towards torquay,the old dear that works there is great to wind up,you pull up on your bike open the tank and in goes the nozzle and you finish filling your bike,then walk towards the shop with notes in hand oh yes waving cash in hand and only then she says remove your helmet or i will not take your money. so begins the heated debate,here is my money please take it from me.after a good arguement she reluctently takes the doe and throws me my change,no one speaks a word and so the wraith all in black with tinted visor still down (thats me) leaves the building he he,we must visit in large numbers one day she would like that alot...

[PeterM]

Its surprising what a difference it makes on a cold morning to have to take off your crash helmet and lose all that built up body heat that you have built up since leaving home

I stopped at The services on the M3 yesterday morning (doing a round trip to London) at about 0600hrs and never got asked to remove my helmet...This seems to be a southern thing at the moment

Every garage has their own excuse

Next week, hopefully on the bike next week, if it does not snow, I hall be travelling from Devon to Norwich and back and then to Glasgow and back a few days later..........I bet the only place that would ask me to remove my crash helmet, if I could be bothered to use them, would be Cullompton

Peter

[graham22]

I always prefer to use pay at the pump to avoid the shoppers in the petrol station.

My standard response to being told off for not removing my helmet is "until you provide somewhere safe and clean to place my £400 of protective equipment I'll keep it somewhere safe and clean, on my head"

Usually works - have been offered to queue up to put my lid behind the counter befire going back out to fill!

[Bladerunner]

My standard response to being told off for not removing my helmet is "until you provide somewhere safe and clean to place my £400 of protective equipment I'll keep it somewhere safe and clean, on my head"

Good point, something a lot of people do not seem to realise is that petrol vapour is extremely harmful to polystyrene, which is what the protective inner shell of helmets are made from. Petrol vapour is also heavier than air, so as you fill your tank the vapour travels to the floor where it disperses. Imagine then that you have taken your helmet off and put it on the floor by your bike as you fill up because there is nowhere else to put it (as I have seen happen many times), the vapour can then cause potentially fatal damage to the inner shell, which could render your most important bit of protective clothing useless - and of course you would not know until it's too late. I shit you not, putting your helmet on the floor of a petrol station is probably the worst thing you can do.

[mel1208]

personally i have no issue with taking me lid off.
i dont understand why its such a huge deal.they clearly have signs asking you to remove your helmet so why not just go along with it.ive ridden through all winter from yeovil to taunton in the freezing weather and had no issues despite it being cold to remove it.
one day one of these incidents could happen, just because they asked one of you to remove your lid doesnt mean they have a personal vendetta it just means they are safeguarding themselves from what could happen whether it sounds stupid or undoable or not.
people have run themselves over with there own cars before does that not sound stupid!

personally i have more things as a biker to worry about like morons pulling into my lane when im in it and pulling out of junctions when im riding up to em !

[kestrel69]

personally i have no issue with taking me lid off.
i dont understand why its such a huge deal.they clearly have signs asking you to remove your helmet so why not just go along with it.

I don't disagree with this at all. It's basically nothing more than good manners.

How many of you wear a hat indoors?

Where I get the problem is when I had a cashier refuse to switch the pump on for me as she couldn't see my face while beside me at the next pump was a woman (?) wearing a burka & happily filling her car

Talk about double standards

[ZXR400Lee]

I've never had the problem, I wear full face balaclava underneath my helmet most days so you can only see my eyes..

I use Pay at Pump where possible..

Its alot of hassle to remove helmet and balaclava to fill up, pay, take 5 mins to get your gear back on again..

[SteveR3]

There's the answer guy's just like all the toll gates where they charge bikes - If we all take a 1/2hr to defrock, do the business, frockup again and make everyone else wait in a massive queue, they'll either forget about helmets or give us the fuel without need to pay - sorted

I should have been a politician, actually, no, forget I said that

[Redlight]

I really object to having to remove my crash helmet when re-fueling. What percentage of garage robberies are carried out by motorcyclists after filling up their Bikes. If bikers represent a disproportional sector of the public I would be suprised.