The Sudden Crash (Image Credits: Unsplash)
San Francisco – Eight years ago, physician Joann Moschella faced a cyclist’s worst nightmare during her daily commute when a car clipped her bicycle’s rear tire.[1]
The Sudden Crash
Moschella had navigated the city’s steep hills and gusty winds for decades. She knew traffic posed the greatest threat to riders. Just one block from the BART station, a vehicle swerved into the bike lane.
She veered right to avoid impact. The car still grazed her rear wheel. Moschella tumbled fast, clutching the handlebars as her helmet struck the pavement. Her face hit next, opening a deep gash above one eye.[1]
She stayed conscious throughout. Moschella dragged herself and her bike to the sidewalk. Her glasses had flown off in the fall. She scanned the street for them, dazed but determined.
An Extraordinary Figure Emerges
A young man glided up on an electric unicycle. He wore a full furry lavender bunny suit. At first, Moschella wondered if it signaled her end. “Wow, when you die in San Francisco, you’re greeted by a spirit animal,” she thought.[1]
Realizing he was flesh and blood, she accepted his offer of help. They spotted her glasses in the intersection. He let out a triumphant high-pitched squeal and dashed to retrieve them.
A truck barreled through first. The lenses shattered into pieces. Undeterred, the bunny-suited stranger collected every fragment and handed them over. He inquired about an ambulance.
From Sidewalk to Station
Moschella, drawing on her medical training, assessed her injuries. She found no broken bones. The head wound bled heavily but seemed superficial. She declined emergency services and simply wanted to head home.
She requested assistance reaching BART. The young man agreed without hesitation. They proceeded together, she limping beside his unicycle. At the station, he ensured she boarded safely.[1]
- Offered immediate concern: “Are you OK? Can I help you?”
- Retrieved shattered glasses despite the mishap.
- Escorted her the full distance to transit.
- Embodied selfless action amid eccentricity.
Affirming the City’s Spirit
The encounter left a profound mark. Moschella later shared her story in NPR’s “My Unsung Hero” series, which highlights acts of everyday kindness.[2][1]
“The delight of the young man in the bunny suit coming to my rescue affirmed everything I love about San Francisco: the kindness, the spontaneous spirit of community and the freedom to dress like a lavender bunny in broad daylight,” she said.[1]
Key takeaways from this unsung hero tale:
- Kindness transcends appearance – a bunny suit did not deter aid.
- Urban cyclists face real perils, yet community steps up.
- Small gestures, like a station escort, create lasting inspiration.
Stories like Moschella’s remind us that heroes often arrive in the most surprising forms. In a city known for its quirks, one stranger’s compassion turned trauma into a testament to human connection. For the full account, visit the NPR article.[1] What unexpected act of kindness have you witnessed? Tell us in the comments.
