UPDATE #2: The Republic of Austin has been covering this tragedy, and Andrew’s father posted this comment in the coverage:

I am Andrew’s dad. I can’t tell you the pain we are going through. Andrew was a special human being. We home schooled him through primary grades and he went to a liberal arts high school. He had vast interests in ancient history, Latin, art, math, music, graphics arts and of course computer programming. The world has lost an incredible human being.

Andrew Runciman, vicitm of a hit and run on his bicycle Saturday, April 23. Image via Republic of Austin.

He just moved to Austin in September and did not have the money to move his bike or his helmet. Just weeks ago he had enough money to buy a bike but he did not have a helmet yet, but I don’t think a helmet would have helped. He was hit with such force he was probably dead at the scene except for modern medicine and mechanical ventilation. I think a helmet would have made it worse. He would have ended up as a vegetable or a quadriplegic.

Austin, we need to catch the person that did this?

And we need to change the structure of transportation in this country. Andrew and I traveled to Europe and we saw the bike lanes separated from motorized traffic. We both wondered why can’t this be done in the USA. Bike lanes don’t work. You must have a separate roadway for bikes. When will we ever learn in this country.

My wife and my daughter will live on but we will never be the same again without the presence of Andrew.- Tom Runciman

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Runciman’s in this time of deep loss. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit Detectives at (512) 974-8164.

UPDATE: BikeTexas has arranged to have a police escort for the ride. The dedication will occur in front of Red’s Porch, the location of the hit and run. There is also a post ride gathering of Andrew’s friends at 8:30 at Violet Crown Social Club, 1111 E. 6th St, his favorite watering hole.

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This Saturday, Social Cycling Austin is organizing a memorial ride and placing of a ghost bike for Andrew Runciman, the cyclist who was killed in a hit and run crash on South Lamar last Saturday night. Keith Byrd of Social Cycling Austin reports that Andrew was a Thursday Night Social Ride participant. The group will be joined by family and friends for a ghost bike dedication.

Memorial Ride for Andrew Runciman
Saturday, April 30
Meet up at 6:30, leave at 7 PM
Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake

For Tennessee friends of Andrew’s who can’t make it to Saturday’s Austin memorial ride, I was sent this information about a memorial back in Tennessee.

Saturday, May 7 at 3:00pm at Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
A celebration of the life of Andrew Runciman, 24 year old son of Thomas and Kristina Runciman and brother to Kat. Killed in Austin, TX by a hit and run driver on Easter Sunday. Please join us.