San Pedro Primer

Welcome to our fair city! Anywhere else in California, it would be known as San Pedro (PAY-droe), but here, it’s just Pedro (PEE-droe). Here are some helpful hints as you jaunt around town:

• Radio Station KNX is the news channel. Program 1070AM into your car radio. Traffic & weather arebroadcast every 10 mins. If they’re talking about a “Sig Alert,” it means lane closures (and therefore parking lot speeds) for at least 20 mins. Hope that they are not talking about your areas of the 405 or110. Rush hour is generally 5:30-9:30 am and 3-7pm. If you’re going to be on the freeways at thesetimes, plan at least twice as long to get to your destination. Note that LA drivers are completely unawarethat wet pavement requires more stopping distance.
• Invest in a map book. The local standard is the “Thomas Guide,” available in the BX. You’ll probably want the edition with both LA and Orange counties.
• As you’ve probably discovered, Gaffey St is a bit, um, “gritty.” When traversing downtown Pedro, use Pacific, or, better yet, Harbor. (One exit prior to Gaffey off the 110, or left at any major intersection with a light.) Base Housing residents rarely see this area, as they turn right First St almost immediately and then take Western (aka the “speedway”) to 25th.
• Due to our peaks and valleys, don’t be surprised if you have little to no cell phone coverage around town—you may need to head “uphill.” Temperature variations are similar—Torrance can easily be 10 degrees warmer than Pedro. As a rule of thumb, make sure you always have a sweater with you—the coast here can feel cold and damp all year.
• Most public elementary schools in Pedro were built for a student body of about 200. They now have in excess of 500 students each. “Visitor Parking” and handicap accessible is virtually non-existent. Plan on walking at least part of the way.
• When you visit main base in El Segundo, the exit from the 405 says “El Segundo” only once—the rest of the signs scream “AIRPORT ONLY!” Just stay in the far right lane and you will be safely delivered to El Segundo Blvd. The gate that used to be on Aviation is closed, so don’t turn right until Douglas St. Make sure you observe the 15mph and crosswalk signs on base and only use BX, Commissary, Visitor, or Customer parking. The base is preparing for inspection (anticipated in the fall), and regularly holds exercises, so you may occasionally experience delays due to gate closures, extra entry inspections, etc.
• If you like to run/walk, the Promenade along Harbor Blvd is nice as is Paseo Del Mar. Both have easily accessible free parking lots (Ports o Call and Pt Fermin Park, respectively).
• The Clinic offers a free directory of local hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. If you’ve not received one in your sponsor package, just drop by the Clinic Business Office (in the main clinic in El Segundo, just to the right when you walk in) and ask for one.

By Nancy H.