It's started again - bikes are coming out of garages.

[Blackholesun]

Sitting on your bike whilst filling up does seem rather odd to me 

[Tinkicker]

Must admit, sitting on the bike while pumping fuel is not something I ever did.  I have seen people do it though.  Historically when it is not the turn of the one sat astride the bike to pay for the fuel.

[Hairsy]

I really think we should cut them some slack on the helmet wearing.

 

The level of police investigation of a driving-away-without-paying is going to be minimal at best so if the crime happens then the garage is just going to lose. Buying a fake reg plate (or adding a bit of black insulating tape to change a character) is a trivial task for anyone who wants to do it.

 

These petrol stations are giving us access to their product while standing next to (or sitting on) our getaway vehicle. With our faces covered.

 

As it happens, I'm yet to be asked to remove my helmet. I may have just got lucky or it may be because I have a flip front helmet which I always raise and then try to face the cashier with a smile on my face when they're looking at me to authorise the pump. But when it does happen (which I assume it will), my goal is to retain that smile, give them a little wave, and keep all the expletives bouncing around inside my head.

 

But that doesn't change the fact that I think if they'd like us to remove our helmets, a little sign saying "Sadly we need to ask you to remove your helmet before using pump to help us to protect against theft" would go a long way.

[billysugger]

If I used pay at pump I didn't remove my helmet, but if paying inside I would take it off. Also, if topping tank to brim for a long trip I would put bike on the centre stand, especially the 600, as that was an awkward tank to fill without splash-back

[S-Westerly]

I've only once recently been asked to remove my (flip front) helmet and that was a Tesco well off my regular routes. I returned the unused nozzle, waved and rode off to the next garage down the road.

[Capt Sisko]

If you get off your bike, take your gloves off, scan your clubcard and generally act like everyone else there is no reason for a garage to ask you to remove your helmet. However I can see why a garage would question someone attempting to refuel whilst still sat astride their bike, helmet & gloves on. You could be 'drive off' in seconds.

[RideWithStyles]

Amusingly they were never bothered about the helmet…..and don’t get me started with the fumes and helmet bs let alone the other one.

 

They have cameras about and for the reg plate anyways and only take seconds to set off with a car….one thing to try and disappear with 13ltrs it’s another with 90.

 

also this place exit has a short but steep slope which is a massive drop down to the main road, not advisable unless your fancy testing mx skills.

[Tinkicker]

13 hours ago, RideWithStyles said:

Amusingly they were never bothered about the helmet…..and don’t get me started with the fumes and helmet bs let alone the other one.

 

They have cameras about and for the reg plate anyways and only take seconds to set off with a car….one thing to try and disappear with 13ltrs it’s another with 90.

 

also this place exit has a short but steep slope which is a massive drop down to the main road, not advisable unless your fancy testing mx skills.

Unfortunately for you in this context, they operate under a contractual " invitation to treat". Which means they offer a service with conditions.  If you do not want to abide by those conditions, it is " jog on matey". Your choice.  The employee was well within their right to instruct you of their rules and insist that you abide by them.

 

Unfortunately in this case you do not have the moral high ground you thought you had, no matter what excuse you offer up.

 

Sorry to have to spell it out so starkly, but there it is.

 

 

Edited May 5 by Tinkicker
Crap spelling

[Blackholesun]

17 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

I've only once recently been asked to remove my (flip front) helmet and that was a Tesco well off my regular routes. I returned the unused nozzle, waved and rode off to the next garage down the road.

Seems a strange thing to do inconvenience yourself when all they've asked is a fairly simple and reasonable request 

[Davidtav]

Petrol stations do seem to have some strange rules based on so called H&S concerns. They still seem to ban mobile phone usage. But does anyone actually believe a mobile phone could start a fire?  And I think you can fill an lpg tank on a vehicle. But not a bottle. 

[Simon Davey]

46 minutes ago, Davidtav said:

Petrol stations do seem to have some strange rules based on so called H&S concerns. They still seem to ban mobile phone usage. But does anyone actually believe a mobile phone could start a fire?  And I think you can fill an lpg tank on a vehicle. But not a bottle. 

 

Early mobile phones were a risk because internally there was the occasional spark when answering (I believe), but that was 25 years ago.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

1 hour ago, Davidtav said:

Petrol stations do seem to have some strange rules based on so called H&S concerns. They still seem to ban mobile phone usage. But does anyone actually believe a mobile phone could start a fire?  And I think you can fill an lpg tank on a vehicle. But not a bottle. 

I was told that on occasions a mobile can send a signal that disrupts the pump recording fuel dispensed. I thought this was a bit far fetched until I had a similar experience with a radio control transmitter.

 

At our model flying club mobiles were banned from the flight line, not because the interfered with the control of aircraft, but because they would occasionally wipe transmitter memory settings.

 

On one occasion I forgot my phone was in my pocket, walked out to the flight line, and had my transmitter lose all settings. 

 

I suspect it's a rare occurrence. And I didn't really believe it until I had that incident. 

[onesea]

3 hours ago, Blackholesun said:

Seems a strange thing to do inconvenience yourself when all they've asked is a fairly simple and reasonable request 

Yes and no, taking your helmet of can be a PITA, particularly if:

• it’s raining,
• you have no where sensible to put helmet,
• you wear glasses, 

Riding to another station can just be easier and the slight inconvenience will remind you not to use that garage again.

 

Some recommend not replacing nozzle, quite right or even leaving on floor but I would not, recommend.

Garages are the one place I expect to not have to remove lid.  I have a local post office that said oh don’t worry when I stepped in first and immediately started to remove gloves and lid because it was raining.

[S-Westerly]

8 hours ago, Blackholesun said:

Seems a strange thing to do inconvenience yourself when all they've asked is a fairly simple and reasonable request 

Well not really the next garage was 100 m down the road. To take my helmet off I have to take off my gloves, remove my helmet, find somewhere safe to park it and not balanced on my mirrors, then carry it and my gloves  round while I pay then put myself back together. Why should I? Not as if they are asking ladies to remove their veils or anything which doesn't bother me but if you do it for bikers you do it for everyone. 

[bonio]

I go to garages where I know they're ok with me keeping the lid on. Such a faff otherwise with the gloves, the scarf, the lid, all off and on again, getting me ears comfy once more and oh why did I come here when just up the road I don't have to bother?

[S-Westerly]

1 hour ago, bonio said:

I go to garages where I know they're ok with me keeping the lid on. Such a faff otherwise with the gloves, the scarf, the lid, all off and on again, getting me ears comfy once more and oh why did I come here when just up the road I don't have to bother?

Exactly!

[JRH]

22 hours ago, Davidtav said:

Petrol stations do seem to have some strange rules based on so called H&S concerns. They still seem to ban mobile phone usage. But does anyone actually believe a mobile phone could start a fire?  And I think you can fill an lpg tank on a vehicle. But not a bottle. 

Years ago I did a lot of work car plants, mainly paint shops. Mobile phones were banned in the paint mix rooms. In fact the staff had intrinsically safe phones for use in these areas.

[Fenland Plodder]

Technically made off without paying once.  Went in to pay, gave pump number and paid what seemed a little higher than expected.  Checked pump as I went back to bike and realised they’d overcharged me by about £3.  Went back inside thinking this will be quick to sort.  15 minutes later it’s finally sorted; turns out I’d paid for the guy on the bike at the pump behind me.  About 6 weeks later I’m at another Co-Op petrol station about 40 miles away.  Try to fill up but can’t, and they ask me to come inside where they mention an unpaid transaction.  Clearly they’d refunded me, charged the other guy the amount he owed and didn’t actually process the transaction at the pump I was at.  Anyway, I was able to show them the amount owed via my banking app by way of the amount paid on that date minus the refund which was, of course the amount owed.  They said they’d make some calls to sort it.  What surprised me was the fact that they had erroneously had me down as not paying, but done nothing about it until I’d returned to another one of their stores.  Avoided the stores for a while until case it still hadn’t been sorted.  Eventually did use them again, no problem.  Pleased they’d finally sorted it, until about ten minutes later realised it was probably because I’d part exchanged my old bike.  So if you bought my old Z1000, sorry if the Co-Op refused to serve you too.

[Simon Davey]

Crikey, I need a whiskey

[Bungleaio]

On 05/05/2025 at 13:01, Simon Davey said:

 

Early mobile phones were a risk because internally there was the occasional spark when answering (I believe), but that was 25 years ago.

Probably over 30 now