by Kate Ryan, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Tami Bensky didn’t plan on becoming a lobbyist. She was thrust into the role after her husband Larry was killed in April of 2010. He was out on a bike ride in Baltimore County when a driver struck him, and was killed instantly.
This winter, Tami Bensky took her grief and her husband’s memory and lobbied lawmakers in Annapolis pushing for tougher penalties for drivers who kill when behind the wheel.
She explained that under Maryland law, a driver who took a life was hit with a fine. Nothing more.
“The penalty for taking the life of my husband, the father of my baby girls, was $507.50,” she said.
Bensky was one of dozens of people whose testimony moved lawmakers to toughen the penalties for vehicular manslaughter. But she’s not done.
Next week, “Larry’s Ride and Run” will be held in Upperco, Md. The ride raises funds for Bike Maryland and is aimed at increasing driver awareness and improving safety for cyclists.
Bensky says she knows many drivers are frustrated by cyclists on the roads, but she’s adamant that the two can and need to share the road.
“So many times I hear negative comments about cyclists on the road, but cyclists have every right to be on the road, and drivers need to understand it’s their responsibility to manage their vehicle in a safe manner.”
Bensky herself is not a cyclist. She met her husband at the gym where they both took a spinning class. Larry took to road riding, enjoying 30, 40, even 60 mile rides, but she stuck to the indoor riding. Still, she’s not finished trying to make the roadways safer.
“Any time there is an issue before the Maryland legislature, I’m going to be there fighting for it.”
Larry’s Ride and Run will be held Saturday, September 24. Find more information and how to register here.
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