Motorcycle refuelling

JABKELL

Hi,
Can anyone tell me if it's illegal to sit on a motorcycle while refuelling?
Just been refused petrol in an apple green service station, Merrion Road, Booterstown.
I was sitting on the bike and had despenced €1:50 Petrol when the pump stopped, then two members of staff approached me and told me I couldn't sit on the bike while filling up.
I've used this service station many times before with no issue in this regard.Only last week I did exactly the same, no problem's.
The reason I have always sat on the bike while refuelling is to get a full tank as the bike only has a side stand.This is the first time in 25 years on motorcycle use I've incountered this problem.
I went and spoke to the manger, informed him I'd filled the same way the previous week. He told me it was company policy that motorcyclists get off their bikes before been allowed to refuel. He told me it was for health and safety. I suggested that they put a notice up informing bikers of this company policy. He told me there would be not notice going up as they were band new pumps!!!!

So just wondering if they can legally refuse for this reason.

GBX

Its not illegal. Its at the owners discretion .. It varies from garage to garage. Some don't mind at all.
To be fair some garages have had drive offs - which is understandable but to treat every biker like a potential thief is wrong.

Health and Safety angle to me is bullsh1t! He is just using that as an excuse to get you off your bike so you don't drive off without paying. Just don't use that garage if you don't like how it is. Plenty of other places around.

mamax

They want you to be off the bike so you don't feck off without paying

JABKELL

The manger even said he was a biker himself and understood the reason why I filled the bike in this way!!!

As I said never experienced this in 25 years of biking. I Definitely won't use the garage again.
I rode about 2km to another garage and filled up sitting on the bike as I always have. ðŸ˜

BrokenArrows

mamax wrote: »

They want you to be off the bike so you don't feck off without paying

Haha.
Sitting or not sitting on the bike won't prevent theft. It takes less than a second to get back on the bike after filling the tank.

rat_race

Apparently there is risk of explosion.

I never know why people make such an effort to fill their tank to the max anyway, it'll probably just go out the overflow.

Both points nicely explained here:

http://motorbikewriter.com/how-to-fill-your-motorcycle-tank/

listermint

Apparently explosion...horse pony.

Its to stop you driving off without paying.

If you dont want this to happen then make an effort to take off the helmet first and gloves and you wont have a problem.

You can see the garages point of view surely.

Max Headroom

Another fcuking "poor us" thread...oh the inconvienience of it all....do you make your pizza delivery guy put his bike on the main stand and remove his lid before you pay him...:rolleyes:

gctest50

listermint wrote: »

Apparently explosion...horse pony.

Its to stop you driving off without paying.

If you dont want this to happen then make an effort to take off the helmet first and gloves and you wont have a problem.

You can see the garages point of view surely.

PrzemoF

http://www.megarider.com/Articles/refueling.html

"[..] if the rider is sitting on the bike, it is unlikely to be on a stand, either sidestand or main stand. Thus, if the rider is sitting on the bike, he then cannot escape the fire without dropping the bike. And when the rider drops the bike trying to escape fuel will spill fuel all over the service station. This fuel will probably also ignite, causing a massive fire that will endanger the lives of many other people"

chillin117

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Haha.
Sitting or not sitting on the bike won't prevent theft. It takes less than a second to get back on the bike after filling the tank.

You will be able to rob more petrol if you get off the bike because they wont stop the pump @1.50. !

pudzey101

Same thing happend me in Texaco OP . Attended switched off the pump and signaled me to take off my helmet before he turned it back on .

Guess majority of them are worried you can take off .

PrzemoF

Unfortunately nobody told that guy to get off his bike:

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scigacz.pl%2FJak%2Cspalic%2Cmotocykl%2Cpodczas%2Ctankowania%2C29434.html&edit-text=

Edit:
Direct link to the video clip: http://www.liveleak.com/ll_embed?f=7abe1812cdc7

Wossack

one of the rude feckers had the audacity to interrupt me on my phone while I was filling up and told me to put out my cigarette

Max Headroom

Wossack wrote: »

one of the rude feckers had the audacity to interrupt me on my phone while I was filling up and told me to put out my cigarette

What a cont..........:D

jimgoose

Explain to the manager, calmly, that you will henceforth be taking your business somewhere that does not assume that you're a criminal. And never darken the door again.

bladespin

Or just get off yer arse, notice they didn't request OP remove his helmet which would lead me to believe it's more of a safety thing than anything else.

arybvtcw0eolkf

I think I may have posted about this recently, not sure.

Anyway same thing happened to me at the Apple Station in Kinsealy, Malahide Road.. I pumped about €1:50 and the pump was switched off.

Then I was told (over the public address system in the forecourt) to dismount my bike to fill up.

I was fooking livid and had it out with the staff about addressing me like that.

I emailed their head office to be told its their policy due to health and safety grounds.. They even provided me with safety guidelines on refueling a bike and lots of other information. In fairness they took the time to provide me with a lot of information I hadn't been aware of.

However I took my business elsewhere because I can't be arsed dismounting my bike to fill up, laziness probably but I just couldn't be bothered.

chillin117

Octavia Long Weather wrote: »

I think I may have posted about this recently, not sure.

Anyway same thing happened to me at the Apple Station in Kinsealy, Malahide Road.. I pumped about €1:50 and the pump was switched off.

Then I was told (over the public address system in the forecourt) to dismount my bike to fill up.

I was fooking livid and had it out with the staff about addressing me like that.

I emailed their head office to be told its their policy due to health and safety grounds.. They even provided me with safety guidelines on refueling a bike and lots of other information. In fairness they took the time to provide me with a lot of information I hadn't been aware of.

However I took my business elsewhere because I can't be arsed dismounting my bike to fill up, laziness probably but I just couldn't be bothered.

You have to get off the bike to pay anyway

frozenfrozen

I want to start paying with a card at the pump so I don't have to take gloves off or got off the bike at all

arybvtcw0eolkf

chillin117 wrote: »

You have to get off the bike to pay anyway

Seriously?..

Krusty_Clown

Just never occurred to me to fill up the bike while sitting on it. If I needed to fill to the top, I'd put it on the centre stand. Maybe it's some kind of sub-conscious self preservation thing . After 16 years of hopping off the bike, it's pretty ingrained. Have never been asked to take off my helmet, either filling up or going into the shop to pay.

Pedro K

I don't get off the bike because I fill the tank each time. I do, however, kick down the side stand while remaining on the bike for the reason mentioned already, that if something ignited I could make a quick getaway without dumping the bike. The petrol station I go to every week has no issue with this.

mecanno37

Petrol station next to me had a bike fire last year, but they still let me fill the tank while on the bike and they have never stopped me.

GBX

mecanno37 wrote: »

Petrol station next to me had a bike fire last year, but they still let me fill the tank while on the bike and they have never stopped me.

Was the fire related to filling up or just a bike fire because of electrics?

Max Headroom

Some old farts here will remember not getting served at all in a petrol station,pub, restaurant if you had a lid ....you new guys are all soft...:rolleyes::P

Lumen

Max Headroom wrote: »

Some old farts here will remember not getting served at all in a petrol station,pub, restaurant if you had a lid ....you new guys are all soft...:rolleyes::P

Would it not be a bit inconvenient drinking a pint or eating a meal whilst wearing a helmet? I suppose a half-face helmet might be OK.

frozenfrozen

Lumen wrote: »

Would it not be a bit inconvenient drinking a pint or eating a meal whilst wearing a helmet? I suppose a half-face helmet might be OK.

ATGATT

BaronVon

I worked in a petrol station in the mid 90's, and the policy was to make sure motorcyclists had dismounted before filling up, and helmets removed before coming into the shop.

macplaxton

As mentioned it's company policy cloaked as H&S. H&S get the blame for a lot of things when it's some bod dreaming up stuff to justify their job.

I worked in a petrol station too (nightshift) in the mid-90s in Scotland and never asked anyone to dismount or take their helmet off. I used to let most folk in the shop as well. (Hashheads are too much hassle back and forth on the hatch).

mamax

Max Headroom wrote: »

Some old farts here will remember not getting served at all in a petrol station,pub, restaurant if you had a lid ....you new guys are all soft...:rolleyes::P

I remember and I'm not an old fart :eek:
I also remember been followed around shops by staff so I used to turn around quickly and look them right in the eye, frighted the fook outta them young wans that were sent off to watch us

Anyhoo when filling petrol I take off lid before I start to fill up then lean on the bike to force it upright to get as much in as possible, if anyone got a problem with that they will be told to f**k right off !

Hotblack Desiato

People get complacent about the dangers of petrol because they use it everyday, and usually nothing bad happens.

Humans are notoriously bad at making rational risk assessments. We get the bad end of this "oooh, those motorbikes are sooo dangerous, you'd want to have a death wish to ride one of those" but just because other people overestimate (largely) imagined risks doesn't mean we should ignore actual risks.

When pumping petrol you are transferring energy at the rate of output of a small power station, you wouldn't be let within 10 metres of a cable doing that, but some of you want to sit on top???

macplaxton

Having looked up an opinion of it over the water:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/2014/case319-motorcyclist-told-remove-helmet-and-get-off-motorcycle-whilst-refuelling.htm

which refers to the PELG red guide:

SAFE DISPENSING OF PETROL
17) Particular attention needs to be paid to the following points to ensure that
petrol is dispensed safely:
a. petrol should only be dispensed into the fuel tank of a vehicle, motorbike or
motorboat, a suitable container or demountable petrol tank;
b. no-one should smoke or use smoking materials in the hazardous area
around the dispenser;
c. the engine of the vehicle to be filled should be switched off before
dispensing begins. Dispensing equipment should be operated in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (e.g. equipment designed
to be operated by an attendant should only be operated by an attendant).
Delivery hoses should not be kinked or stretched. After dispensing,
nozzles should be firmly stowed in their housings to switch-off metering
pumps and dispensers or, in the case of centralised pump systems, to
isolated hoses from sources of pressure. If appropriate, hoses should be
draped to avoid damage by moving vehicles;
d. motor cyclists and their passengers should dismount from their machines;
e. portable and CB radios, mobile telephones and other electrical equipment
should not be used in hazardous areas;
f. the dispensing area should be kept clear of obstructions to allow easy
access and exit; and
g. petrol should not be dispensed by persons under 16 years of age. This
restriction should not preclude young persons (e.g. teenagers) from
operating dispensers to refuel motor vehicles provided this activity is
carried out under the supervision of an adult.

http://www.magireland.org/2013/news-media/clarification-on-forecourt-rules/

prunudo

I hate the way h&s is getting stricter and stricter as the years pass. Our lives are becoming more restricted and sense of adventure and discovery being hindered by insurance and bureaucracy. Constantly being told you can't do this or can't do the other.

AgileMyth

Garda bike went on fire while filling in Sligo a few years back, it is something that can happen. I still sit on mine when filling though.

I lived in Spain for a couple of years and I'd say around 90% of stations would ask you to step off first, it'd be well signposted and usually there's someone outside to ask you as well. No bother hopping off if thats the case.

gctest50

jvan wrote: »

I hate the way h&s is getting stricter and stricter as the years pass. Our lives are becoming more restricted and sense of adventure and discovery being hindered by insurance and bureaucracy. Constantly being told you can't do this or can't do the other.

jvan wrote: »

...sense of adventure and discovery ...

jvan wrote: »

...sense of adventure and discovery ...

It's a petrol station yer in, refuelling your bike, not climbing K2 with no oxygen

prunudo

gctest50 wrote: »

It's a petrol station yer in, refuelling your bike, not climbing K2 with no oxygen

Every day is an adventure
But you look at everything that we got up as kids and what kids do now. They're not allowed do anything without somebody telling them to stop. It's the same in every walk of life, everybody having to conform to a certain way because some suit tells you cant do such and such thing. That's going to have an effect on future generations, from being inquisitive to creativity it's all being restricted.

Arthur.beaker

GBX wrote: »

To be fair some garages have had drive offs - which is understandable but to treat every biker like a potential thief is wrong.

It is a reasonable precaution, hardly treating everyone like a potential thief. Does a landlord requesting a deposit mean the landlord expects every tenant to do a runner or wreck the place?

gerrowadat

I don't need to discover for myself that petrol goes on fire if you get it hot by splashing it on a hot engine. I've to get off the bike anyway so might as well be better equipped to cheese it if the unforeseen happens.

Paulw

I really don't see the big issue here.

People don't seem to have an issue with not using mobile phones when fueling up, and yet it's very hard to find any evidence that a fire can be started by a phone. There are plenty of videos of fuel going on fire from static shock or hot engines though.

Then again, I get more fuel in my tank having the bike on the side stand and can't fill it while sitting on it anyway. The joy of an 800GS.

Rory28

I find standing a few paces back from the bike and shooting the petrol, in an arching motion, into the tank to be the safest and most efficient way of refuelling my bike.

I have only been arrested twice.

Cienciano

I always get off and nudge the bike with my hip to get the last drop in. TBH, it sounds more awkward to do it on the bike.

arybvtcw0eolkf

From Adventure Bike Rider.

Tbh the more I read about this the more I'm convinced of it (dismounting the bike) being good practice.

I've started to dismount now too.

Rory28

Octavia Long Weather wrote: »

From Adventure Bike Rider.

Tbh the more I read about this the more I'm convinced of it (dismounting the bike) being good practice.

I've started to dismount now too.

Holy crap that was a scary video

BlackWizard

Rory28 wrote: »

Holy crap that was a scary video

You should check this one out https://youtu.be/ZnZ2XdqGZWU?t=159

Skatedude

Refueling a motorcycle while sitting on it vastly increases the chance of a fire. Bikes can easily pick up static charge in use which is discharged when the stand is put down.

It is not discharged while sitting on the bike due to the rubber tyres and your boots rubber soles.

prunudo

You'd swear there were bikes exploding at petrol stations on a weekly basis. Surely there's as much chance of static refueling a car.

frozenfrozen

IMO the reason to really care about is that if there is a fire, there's a big chance of knocking the bike over and having the fire spread if you are sitting on it while refuelling.

I've sat on the bike while refuelling a couple of times but I don't think I'll be doing it again after the above video, I won't have 5 people with fire extinguishers standing by

BlackWizard

I recently spilled a litre of petrol all over a 125cc motorbike after a long run on it. It went all over the down pipes and engine. I have to admit I was terrified and ask the passenger to move away from it.

I made myself feel safer be thinking that maybe there needs to be a spark to ignite petrol. Anyone want to ruin my happy reassuring thought?

frozenfrozen

BlackWizard wrote: »

I recently spilled a litre of petrol all over a 125cc motorbike after a long run on it. It went all over the down pipes and engine. I have to admit I was terrified and ask the passenger to move away from it.

I made myself feel safer be thinking that maybe there needs to be a spark to ignite petrol. Anyone want to ruin my happy reassuring thought?

250 degrees needed for auto ignition... very easily could go on fire without a spark

Del2005

jvan wrote: »

You'd swear there were bikes exploding at petrol stations on a weekly basis. Surely there's as much chance of static refueling a car.

The driver, or person operating the pump, has earthed the car before they start pumping. Search for videos of people putting fuel into containers on vehicles, purely static causing these fires.