Helmets and filling stations

[James_0541]

How much does this bother you? I remove my helmet each time I fill up, I just find it easier to faff without it.

BBC News - Helmets on or off? East Yorkshire bikers split over fuel pump etiquette - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz64wwxp887o

[paddy27]

Not much, i am lazy i suppose. Never bother taking my helmet off at a petrol stations. Do it if they ask. Otherwise its leave it on.

[P675]

I don't, what's the point unless I'm going to eat/drink something while I'm there?

[MrWideFit]

If i’m with a friend that isn’t going in themselves i’ll whip it off to make paying by phone a little quicker with face scan. Otherwise i leave it on and take my gloves off to be able to touch the screen for my passcode

If the till staff ask for it to be taken off i can understand and will do so, i will hold my hand up to arguing once when having a bad day when asked to take my helmet off only to reveal my balaclava underneath

[bogie]

Never had to remove a helmet in 40 years of riding. I do wear a flip front helmet most of the time so it would a non issue.

Is there an epidemic of people riding away without paying for fuel now ?

Surely with our modern technology they dont need a facial scan just to buy fuel....you would think they would be taking our fingerprints off the pump by now just to be sure

[hiccy18]

If they insist on me removing my helmet before fueling there should be large signage at each pump; ditto getting off the bike. I've only been asked once since covid to remove a lid: they were happy enough with my mates open flip-up lid, but not my full face; staff were polite about it, fine.

Got barked at to get off the bike the other night at pay-at-pump, pump switched off and verbal when asked if I could get back on to fill the last bit; "person" seemed to think they're the only garage employee following "health and safety". Fine, but no other garage asks the same, so you've lost your employers my custom for at least the next few years, at that station and all of their supermarkets.

"Vote with your feet" is my mantra.

[Bob_Defly]

In a lot of North America you can just pay at the pump with your phone, I don't understand how the UK is so far behind. Especially as the UK implemented chip & pin / tap way faster than the U.S.

[John D.]

Bob_Defly said:

In a lot of North America you can just pay at the pump with your phone, I don't understand how the UK is so far behind. Especially as the UK implemented chip & pin / tap way faster than the U.S.

Its widespread in UK as well, don't worry.

ETA - paying using chip and pin card is at least. I don't use my mobile to make payments, so wouldn't know!

Doesn't bother me having to take my lid off, but I'm a leasure rider rather than commuter. That said most places I fill up don't require it to be taken off.

[the cueball]

I don't take mine off usually.

My local garage knows me well enough, I use pay at pump where I can when I'm elsewhere.. and will remove if asked nicely (politely), and before I've filled up.

Can't remember the last time I was asked to take it off though.

[bogie]

Bob_Defly said:

In a lot of North America you can just pay at the pump with your phone, I don't understand how the UK is so far behind. Especially as the UK implemented chip & pin / tap way faster than the U.S.

Agreed...and in some Euro countries Ive travelled they do pay at pump up front, so without a valid payment method, no fuel is delivered.

How hard can it be to solve this "problem" ?

I'm sure the big chains make more profit selling overpriced everything in the shops, so getting you into the shop is a priority vs just pay at pump and drive off.....

[Bob_Defly]

bogie said:

Bob_Defly said:

In a lot of North America you can just pay at the pump with your phone, I don't understand how the UK is so far behind. Especially as the UK implemented chip & pin / tap way faster than the U.S.

Agreed...and in some Euro countries Ive travelled they do pay at pump up front, so without a valid payment method, no fuel is delivered.

How hard can it be to solve this "problem" ?

I'm sure the big chains make more profit selling overpriced everything in the shops, so getting you into the shop is a priority vs just pay at pump and drive off.....

Yep, that's my point, you pay (authorise) prior to fuel being pumped. So there is no risk at all.

[black-k1]

I've had to take my helmet off on a few occassions and find it frustrating. It always takes me a bit of fiddling to make sure my ears are comfortable inside my helmet, and that neck covering and rain gear (if on) are correctly tucked in. The most common excuse I've heard for requiring the removal of a helmet is for safety of staff in the store, but I would love to know how often bikers stop to fill their bike, then go into the shop to rob it. I strongly suspect this is people perceiving of a situation that actually never happens.

I fill up with pay-at-the-pump whenever I can.

[Linksmas]

As a glasses wearer its pure faff removing and replacing helmet, I don't think I've ever been asked to remove it though. I usually look for Pay at Pump anyway.

[stang65]

I think that if the garage wants you to take your lid off then a simple sign on the pump is the least they can do, so you ride in and if you don't want to remove your lid you can easily ride on to the next garage, tiny delay and no pump blocking.

Pay-at-pump really should be mandatory for half the pumps in each garage by now. In my 28 mile each way commute only one garage has pay at pump and that's the one a mile from home, so I have a 54 mile gap between pay-at-pump availability. This is in the South East so hardly a remote commute. However, it never will be as most garages are now more like mini-supermarkets so they want you to go in and buy stuff, even though you already get stuck in a queue of people doing their weekly shop whenever you go inside. This actually often blocks the road at the one I try to use with pay-at-pump as shoppers don't move their cars first, so who knows how bad it would be without any pay-at-pump, and it's apparently the most congested road in England so doesn't really need slowing down!

[Biker 1]

My local Tesco express with Esso fuel is all pay at pump. Never been asked to remove lid - I just stick my Amex + pin into the machine.
I have never been asked to remove lid anywhere else, including independents, BP, Texaco & others.
All the faff of taking the thing off & replacing it 3 minutes later - what's the point?

[Speed addicted]

I don't like taking my helmet off to fill up. Where do you put it for a start? Then there's more risk of dropping it, have to take both gloves off etc.
The very few times I've been shouted at over the tannoy I've just gone somewhere else.

[Jap90s]

I don't take my helmet off because then I'd have to take my gloves off and my glasses off

I always flip my visor up to show willing but that's it

[Andy XRV]

bogie said:

Bob_Defly said:

In a lot of North America you can just pay at the pump with your phone, I don't understand how the UK is so far behind. Especially as the UK implemented chip & pin / tap way faster than the U.S.

Agreed...and in some Euro countries Ive travelled they do pay at pump up front, so without a valid payment method, no fuel is delivered.

How hard can it be to solve this "problem" ?

I'm sure the big chains make more profit selling overpriced everything in the shops, so getting you into the shop is a priority vs just pay at pump and drive off.....

AI would suggest you are correct…..

In the UK, petrol station and forecourt convenience shops account for about 13% of all sugar confectionery and sweet sales, and roughly 12% to 15% of the total chocolate confectionery market.

These stores are major drivers of impulse buys, with consumers frequently purchasing snacks for immediate consumption or to save for later.The remaining 87% of sales are split between large grocery stores, standard high-street newsagents, and online platforms.Here are a few quick facts about sweets and snacks on the forecourt:

The Snacking Factor: Snacks like confectionery, soft drinks, and crisps average 29% of a petrol forecourt shop's annual sales, compared to just 17% in standard high-street convenience stores.High-Demand Items: Petrol stations sell nearly 300% more "Duo" chocolate bars (like Duo Mars or Duo Bounty) and twice as much chewing gum as typical convenience stores, as drivers like to eat one pack immediately and save the second for later.

The Shift to Forecourts: Independent dealers and branded petrol stations have become increasingly vital for treat brands because the impulse nature of these products yields high margins for station owners.

[Bob_Defly]

Interesting, although, I spend hundreds of pounds a month on fuel, and maybe a few quid on chocolate. And will absolutely avoid any petrol station that won't let me pay at the pump. If I want a snack I'll get one after filling up.

[SchillingTwo]

It used to annoy me on longer trips in bad weather, when I had neck things and gilet things and undershirts tucked into under gloves and so on.

Helmet off meant rearranging too much and possibly only noticing a gap or chafing half a mile back onto the motorway in the rain.