No helmets on forecourts

[banditrider]

Can I ask y?? THere is a sign that shows a person on a bike filling up with a big red circle with a line through it stating not to do it???

I mean would suck if something happened causing your crutch to catch fire........

Yes it would! But I like to fill up with as much as possible (more riding, less stopping) and this is the easiest way (at least for me on my bike). You can also see what you're doing a bit better and less chance of spilling fuel.

[Elysium]

I use the BP on Rangatiki street with my helmet on and don't get asked to take it off. They tend to get a lot of bikers so maybe they don't mind us leaving them on. I alway make sure I pull my wallet out before entering the shop.

[Okey Dokey]

I've never been asked to remove my helmet while fueling up. Sometimes I take it off, sometimes I don't. I guess I would take it (my helmet) off if requested.

[sunhuntin]

I actually do wonder how many bikes do a runner. I mean really.

in almost 3 years working at bp, there was not a single motorbike runner reported from either the station i was at, or the 3 other bps in town, nor did any other servos alert us to any. [which sometimes happened when one vehicle hit more than one station... eg, mobil, then shell, then gull etc] all the runners that were reported were done by cage drivers... maybe they should ban cagers, or ask people to leave their cars on the road when filling?

i never asked any riders, be they local or out of towners, to remove their helmets, and i never remove mine either [open face lid with sunglasses removed cos i cant see in the tank with them on.] same with riders straddling... their choice if they want petrolly nuts.
cellphones, however, i enforced as needed. ie... me filling a gas bottle and some softcock chatting away. LPG freaks me enough as it is, without adding cellphones to the mix.
biggest hassle was the dicks who thought SMOKING on the forecourt was a good idea. yelled at one poncy bitch for flicking ash onto my forecourt. she didnt look impressed with being told off.

ive used most of the servos in town [with the exception of mobil cos the owners the biggest wanker under the sun.] and only one has a no helmet sign, and thats actually one of the bps! needless, i dont take mine off when going in there. only time i will remove it at a gas station is when im stopping for more than gas. when that happens, lid has the chin strap done up and slipped over a mirror. very little chance of dropping, getting in the way and doesnt have to be put on yicky forecourt.

[michael]

couldnt be arsed reading through all 5 pages so sorry if this was already mentioned. I was told quite some time ago that you should take it off because the fumes can knock you out. Eg: Fill up and fumes build up in helmet, get on bike and ride away and before ya know it you're waking up the f**k just happened. Any truth to this.
I always take mine off just because I kinda look like a islander and I'm young so I get enough bad looks anyway, dont need anymore.

[Slyer]

I always used to take mine off till I noticed that most other people don't.
I wouldn't try it without flipping the visor though.

[pritch]

I used to remove my helmet after dark but now the station I use doesn't let anyone in the shop after dark, so now I don't bother.

There is one gas station that is very convenient for me to use and if a staff member did something that pissed me off I'd ask when the manager would be in next and have a chat with him. If he should turn out to be a plonker then I'd go somewhere else.

Out here on the rural rump we have not been troubled with pre-pay or pumps turned off but I guess it'll come...

[portokiwi]

I allways take my helmet and gloves off when refulling. just as easy, hang my helmet on my mirror. I have wet wipes in the little box on the bike which i use to clean my hands with after using the pump. nice and clean. Never found it an issue realy.

[vifferman]

I remove my helmet on entering a bank - I have no problem with it. But then, the bank has clean, dry, counter space for me to put it down on. And does not require me to manipulate awkward hoses dispensing large quantities of highly flammable liquid. Whilst at the same time holding and balancing a motorcycle. With a still very hot engine.

Yeah, what he said.
I've never been asked to remove my helmet - although many gas stations (particularly BP) have a sticker on the door indicating such.
I have enough trouble trying to sort out gloves, wallet and keys (usually drop at least one of these). I'm not going to risk dropping my helmet.
Anyone could be a potential thief, riding a bike or otherwise. While I understand that wearing a helmet means I'm hard to positively ID from their security camera tape, that's not my problem, so I'll make it their problem if they object.
There used to be a Caltex at the end of our street - very convenient to pull into if I was out of gas. I stopped going there after twice buying gas on my EFTPOS card and asking for $10 cash out, only to be told, "I've just balanced the till!".
Customer service?!? Not!
I know they're not a bank, but why make their (minor) inconvenience my problem?

[ManDownUnder]

I don't have an issue with it at all personally. Common courtesy.
Gloves off, helmet off, fill the bike, pay, dress... leave.

I honestly fail to see the problem, unless it was the PA announcement making you feel silly (which I can understand)

If there really is a problem... shop elsewhere

[vifferman]

I don't have an issue with it at all personally. Common courtesy.

I don't see it like that. Yes, it's understandable, but from my point of view is a bloody nuisance. If I drop my helmet (and if I took it off, sooner or later I would), that's a major pain in my wallet. Plus all that dressing/undressing etc. sucks. So, I flip up my visor (coz it's dark tinted), put the bike on the mainstand, take off one glove, and wait for them to flip on the pump. If they asked me to remove my helmet, I probably would unless I was in a grumpy mood, in which case I'd go elsewhere. But I'm not going to take it off unless they ask.
Banks are different - like Ixion said, there's somewhere to put my helmet, and I usually need to talk to the teller. In the gas station, I usually don't need to say anything, or at most it's "Pump 4" and "Thanks!".

[ManDownUnder]

I don't see it like that. Yes, it's understandable, but from my point of view is a bloody nuisance. If I drop my helmet (and if I took it off, sooner or later I would), that's a major pain in my wallet. Plus all that dressing/undressing etc. sucks. So, I flip up my visor (coz it's dark tinted), put the bike on the mainstand, take off one glove, and wait for them to flip on the pump. If they asked me to remove my helmet, I probably would unless I was in a grumpy mood, in which case I'd go elsewhere. But I'm not going to take it off unless they ask.
Banks are different - like Ixion said, there's somewhere to put my helmet, and I usually need to talk to the teller. In the gas station, I usually don't need to say anything, or at most it's "Pump 4" and "Thanks!".

Points taken but I've been doing this the whole time I've been riding, the guy at the BP near my place knows me well but I still unglove, unhelmet and pop an earphone out so I can fill up and say gidday.

Now chance of dropping my lid because I put my gloves and keys in it, slide it up my left arm while filling... etc

Each to their own I guess - but that's my view of the world.

[Deano]

Never been asked and if I was I would go elsewhere.

They want my money, then they provide the customer friendly service and pay options.

I'd be happy to use the 'slide drawer' payment if need be, but I can't be arsed removing my gloves and helmet to pay for gas.

[prettybillie]

Its not like comparing apples with oranges at all. Its all about theft. Have you been watching the news lately? theft of fuel is at an all time high.

None of these are bikes though. People on bikes tend to have a good reputation when it comes to this sort of thing.

[Bob]

There was a phase a couple of years ago in the UK of bikers being told to take their helmets off or the pumps would not be turned on.

Not quite sure how it all ended - probably a combination of a lot of places now having 'Pay at Pump' facilities and CCTV being installed. Basically, until the vehicle number plate is logged on the CCTV, the pumps won't give any petrol.

OK, the above doesn't stop someone who stole the car/bike filling up then zooming off, but it does mean that the 'normal' (whatever that is) fuel thief doesn't try it on.

Whatever happens, I've never had to take off my helmet, even back in the day when a lot of places were asking you to. I'd always make a point of stopping bike, getting off the bike (key feature here; what they were really worried about was the rider sitting on the bike while they refuelled - easy then to ride straight off), removing gloves and flipping visor open so my face was in clear view.

If I was asked to, I would take it off - but of course, it would take me a LOT of time to put it back on, along with all the other kit... and I would explain patiently to anyone waiting behind me as I apologised for the delay!

Same tactic was used to end bikers being asked to pay a toll on a bridge in London. All stopped, removed whatever kit it was, opened pockets to get change, then put it all back on... all the time saying sorry to the annoyed drivers behind. The toll for bikers was lifted, now you just ride straight through.

If you start getting asked to take helmet off, then this tactic is worth trying. But DO get off the bike to refuel - and I'd suggest gloves off and visor opened.

Got to be worth a try.