x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 14 Jun 2016 07:02:33 -0400 thread-index: AdHGLEBzDA+/nnyURCueccGUHUgxNA== Thread-Topic: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency From: To: Subject: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2016 07:02:33 -0400 Message-ID: <485E253A43E8491B829FE88FAD61D503@IQ12> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 14 Jun 2016 11:02:33.0466 (UTC) FILETIME=[409285A0:01D1C62C] WORKFLOW 344 MR Wayne R Argabright Retired USAF 1966 1020 Burnt Gin Rd Wedgefield SC 29168 swedge@ftc-i.net 803-494-3713 803-413-3803 Manchester State Forrest officials not allowing Bicycles to ride on OPEN forest roads. But still allowing Motorcycles/cars/Trucks/pedestrians on same OPEN forest roads.. S.C. Code 56-5-3420 "bicyclist must be granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle" also regulation 123-203D line 8 for lands regulated under wildlife management area regulations which is what Manchester State forest uses states: "The operation of non-motorized vehicles are allowed subject to the following restrictions or conditions: a. Bicycles MAY be ridden on roads open to motorized vehicles,established road beds and designated bicycle trails unless otherwise posted" Fact Open roads are NOT posted with any kind of signage period but do have gates that are OPEN. The wording that the Manchester State Forest folks are using that seems to prevent this is from their web site http://www.state.sc.us/forest/manchester.htm that states: ROADS "State Forest Access Roads are open to licensed and registered vehicles only unless designated as part of the trail." However that is ONLY on their web page and not based on any codified laws. Also several years ago Leigha Blackwell made a finding at the AGs office that They couldn't prevent Bicycles from riding open roads.I have contacted ALL my local officials and they have contacted various other officials to no avail essentially Manchester seems to be just doing their own thing as ALL the other state Forrest's have no problems with bicycles on OPEN roads. Please NOTE I am NOT talking about trails but OPEN ROADS. Thank you for your time and help. Sincerely Wayne Argabright Also I am more than willing to drive in to Columbia and drive anybody out to Manchester to personally show them the OPEN roads in question. After all I am retired. Oh and the reason my friends/family and I would like to ride the OPEN roads in Manchester again are because they are scenic and have virtually no traffic! So we can ride side by side at a leisurely pace taking in the scenery/wildlife with out fear of being run over! In the pass it was allowed.. Just seems like it doesn't pass the common sense test and I even showed the officials in question the WRITTEN LAWS.. They just blew me off... I even went to court over this; judge didn't make a decision tell well over a year went by and I get a letter stating that I needed to pay my fine? and that was it??? I was befuddled so I appealed with a local attorney "T" Davis who lives down the street from me and walks his dogs on the same OPEN forest roads. On appeal that took a very long time and finally some prodding from me to get a decision back the judge said that Manchester could regulate the TRAILS and prevent folks from ridding TRAILS!!! nowhere did i mention trails and she even had PICTURES of the OPEN roads!! She said i could appeal to the next court but by then the court costs were way more than the attorney fees and fines!!!! Yeah If i had money to burn I would have continued up the chain. As i mentioned if they had some kind of REAL reason for this i would have no problem particularly if it was actually based on some WRITTEN S.C. law some place but it is not?? And the Reg they used in my court case "reg 123" clearly says bikes ARE allowed on roads.. I also used to be the "Bicycle/Pedestrian" coordinator for Sumter county AND The Midlands trail coordinator for the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. One of the goals for that program was to find places for folks to get out and get healthy working with the Sumter County Active Lifestyles Program.. Oh one more tidbit County roads that run through Manchester State forest ARE open to bikes. Same Forest same area one legal one not?? Things that make you go hmmmm.....once aging Thank you for your time.. seriously i will gladly come and get ANYBODY that wants to see what i am talking about... 74.222.102.134