REMOVE YOUR HELMET!!!

[MadDogMcQ]

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!

[sadlonelygit]

go and buy a bandana/balaclava and go in there again, and comply with the helmet removal. for some reason a black balaclava seems far more menacing than a bike helmet

[His Dudeness]

it is annoying but would you go into a bank with a helmet on?

[DanielT]

Advantage of a flip front. I would definitely return there and be wearing a burka under the helmet!

[ddtwelve]

  see my post on petrol stations

[markbubble]

most fuel stations around here ask(and some make) you take helmet off either before filling or before you go and pay,iv got used to it as had to do it at most places for around 20 years in this area(hull!)

[Lawrence]

I don't usually, but then I usually fill at rush hour on a main route out of London.  I've been in the same place at 11pm and was asked to take it off before filling.  I think the people there recognise the bike now though.

[MadDogMcQ]

HAHAHAHAHAHA, not THAT would be funny!  Remove helmet to reveal a burka.


 

[Rusty]

Happened to me about three years ago at my local Tesco. Filled up the bike, went inside to pay and held out the money only to be told that I had to remove my helmet. I asked why and they gave me the same patter. I too mentioned the Burqua thing and the guy just said "If you don't remove it then I refuse to serve you"

I pointed out that it was actually self service  so I'd been 'served' all I wanted to do now was pay for the damned stuff and be on my way, not the actions of the criminal element he was inferring that I might be. The guy flatly refused to accept the cash, he even folded his arms like a kid so I couldn't give the money to him.

In the end the shop was full and I turned to the crowd and said that I had filled up with ten pounds of fuel and was leaving ten pounds on the counter in payment for it, and they were my witnesses. I then told the chump behind the counter that I had left the payment, and it was entirely up to him if he put it in the till or not as if it went missing there were plenty witnesses to say I had left it. I walked out and rode off.

The next day I called in and they were still talking about it, only I was there in my car and they obviously didn't recognise me. The burqua argument had obviously them in a flap, but there was a new notice to remove helmets in the window! I always fill up on my credit card  now and pay at the pump.  I still keep my helmet on that way and avoid the inconvenience.

[MadDogMcQ]

"If you don't remove it then I refuse to serve you"

    The stuff of dreams 

[Grahamm]

Oh dear, here we go again...

It takes less than 30 seconds to take a lid off and put it back on again. Is that minute *SO* important to you that you can't be polite enough to remove your helmet? Would you keep it on if you went into a shop? A bank? A Police station? Someone's house?

If it matters to you that much, get a flip-front.

Oh and if a woman is wearing a burkha it's incredibly unlikely that she would be driving a car in the first place because her faith would prevent her from doing so, only the men are allowed to drive...

[SEPTIKANGEL]

Yes, it has been discussed here and other places before today.
But Graham, I was at Morrisons in Preston Docks only last week, think they've been mentioned here somehwere.
Car in front of me - lady in Burka.
She went in and paid, I followed and.... not because of her manner of dress,  thought, bugger it, I can't be arsed taking my lid off, removing my ear plugs, putting them back in again, putting my lid on, putting my gloves back on, after refitting my tank bag etc.etc. all of which delays the next vehicle behind me in the queue.  I'm going in to pay for something, not to have a conversation, for which I would of course take my lid off. 
Nothing was said at all, but I was ready for it, I'll tell ya.
If I'm told to remove my lid before fuelling, 'fraid I'd just scoot off elsewhere, done it before. But God help them, (can I say that?) if they'd have asked me last week at Preston docks. 
 

[Rusty]

Grahamm - Nope. I've seen lots of women driving a car wearing the niquab, and nothing in their faith prevents it what gave you that idea?


As for the other point, while admittedly it is a matter of seconds to remove a helmet, personally I don't like to obey rules that appear to have no basis in reason. If a face covering is required to be removed for security purposes then obviously there can be no exceptions, similarly I find the inference that I might be a criminal offensive. Were I to remove the helmet and reveal an under-helmet ski mask I would have complied with the rule - it's plain stupid.


I've lost count of the number of helmets that have fallen off my seat and bounced around petrol forecourts, they're too expensive to keep replacing so I leave mine on and pay by card.

[dazza]

Oh and if a woman is wearing a burkha it's incredibly unlikely that she would be driving a car in the first place because her faith would prevent her from doing so, only the men are allowed to drive...
[
/quote]Was with you till you said that, I got side swiped in my car by a woman wearing a burka driving a rav4. Saying that I do think it's a bit insensitive making ugly people reveal themselves in public when it's obvious they're  ....

[richfzs]

The only place the ladies dont drive, AFAIK, is in Saudi Arabia, and its got nothing to do with the faith, and everything to do with the oppression in that country.

[MadDogMcQ]

Would you keep it on if you went into a shop? A bank? A Police station? Someone's house? If it matters to you that much, get a flip-front.

No, I obviously wouldn't walk into a bank with a helmet on! That's just silly. But a petrol station is a bit different don't you think? Apart from the hilarious situation where you could wear a head-cover under your helmet, you could also go to the petrol station dressed like a "hoodie" with a pair of shades and the typical slouch. Absolutely no chance of being recognised on CCTV, but this would be acceptable as far as the pump attendants are concerned.


It's all bollox and I will not be removing my helmet when others are allowed to cover their faces in one way or another.


BTW,  I've got a Shoei Flip-Front but I find them to be much heavier than my full-face helmet. But why should you have to buy one anyway??


Tom

[Grahamm]

Car in front of me - lady in Burka.

Ok, I was under the impression that if they were of the branch of the faith that requried the burkha etc then they didn't let women drive either, seems I was mistaken.

There again, we don't get many burkha wearers down here in Portsmouth. The wife of my Islamic neighbour doesn't always even wear the headscarf.

all of which delays the next vehicle behind me in the queue. 

I'll not deliberately delay someone, but neither will I rush or compromise my safety or hearing for them. Unless you're at a tiny garage there's always another pump they can go to.

[Grahamm]

But a petrol station is a bit different don't you think?

Not if you're eg a young woman working behind the counter. Also, in the past (I don't know if they still do it) but I've heard of the the attendant getting stuck for the cost of a "Drive Off" if the driver can't be identified.

Apart from the hilarious situation where you could wear a head-cover under your helmet, you could also go to the petrol station dressed like a "hoodie" with a pair of shades and the typical slouch. Absolutely no chance of being recognised on CCTV, but this would be acceptable as far as the pump attendants are concerned.

It depends on whether they take the "no helmets" thing literally. Remember, also, that probably the poor bugger behind the counter gets no say in the matter, it's Policy dictated by Head Office and they just have to do what they're told or risk losing their job, so giving them grief for something that isn't their fault is hardly fair.

[MadDogMcQ]

I didn't give anyone grief Grahamm - we had a conversation about a stupid rule which the attendant was paid to enforce. The attendant was wearing a Kufi which I'm guessing meant he was a Muslim. In all honesty, that's what got me thinking about the Burka while I was stood in the queue. It seemed to me, at the time, to be a reasonable argument to make if he raised the subject of removing headgear.


What has a "young woman" behind the counter got to do with anything? If someone does a bunk without paying, is she at some sort of risk that men aren't at? 

[richfzs]

I also don't see what "being a young woman behind the counter" has to do with anything. If I'm paying for my petrol, then he or she is taking cash or card from me. And if I'm robbing the place, then they're going to be more concerned about the shotgun under their noses than whether I'm wearing a bloody helmet or not (and, I suggest, will not be likely to ask me to take the helmet off )

[Rusty]

I'll add that I always went to my local Spar every night for bottles of Red. One particular night I was on my way home a little later than usual. I rode a bandit 12 back then and wondered about the wisdom of calling for the wine as I was passing and riding home with it stuffed inside my jacket. Anyway, the lazy streak kicked in and rather than go home and come back for the wine I decided to risk horrific injury and chance it - I'm good at decisions like that. 


Went in the shop, got the wine, held out a tenner and the girl said she can't serve me unless I remove the helmet. Now this was a girl who saw me every night, she knew me. I said it's me Pete - but she said yes I know but I still can't serve you unless you take it off cause it's all recorded on camera. What a load of bollox. I put the wine back and went to bargain booze ever since. Well done spar that's nine six quid bottles a week you don't sell now.

[MadDogMcQ]

....that's nine six quid bottles a week.....

OMG Pete - How's your liver???

[Rusty]

I've cut it down to four bottles now as I'm looking after my health. 

[DanielT]

Bearded bloke with sunglasses on wouldn't be asked to remove glasses and/or shave.

You arent robbing them, you're giving them money. Probably robbers wouldn't fill up first!

It's pettiness . A little power they feel justified in wielding

[Lawrence]

Bearded bloke with sunglasses on wouldn't be asked to remove glasses and/or shave.

You arent robbing them, you're giving them money. Probably robbers wouldn't fill up first!

It's pettiness . A little power they feel justified in wielding

Just look at Robocop - guy fills up and robs the place and he doesn't even have a lid on!