For the first time ever, I was asked to remove my helmet at a petrol station. I was halfway through fuelling when I feintly heard the call over the tannoy, so I just ignored it and carried on. When I went inside (Texaco station on Garstang Rd, Preston), there was a long queue, so before I reached the tills, another biker had arrived and he was told to remove his helmet (which he did).
When I got to the till, I was told in no uncertain terms, by one of the three assistants, that the next time I come to the station, I must remove my helmet. Why? I asked. He explained that I must remove my helmet for security reasons to make my face visible and identifiable. Okay, that's fine I said. But if I was a lady wearing a burka, would you make me remove that?
He squirmed and shrugged his shoulders and explained to me that he didn't make the rules. If I don't remove helmet next time, he'll not activate the pump. I explained to him that I won't be returning to the station again anyway!
I wasn't trying to be arsy about it, but FFS, I wasn't a young hoodie on a feckin stolen scooter! And if a rule applies to one, then it should apply to all, or it is discriminatory!