Garfield Cat

Daily Pilot Article
https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-...uncil-approval

The residents of Fernleaf Avenue in Corona del Mar, between Seaview Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, met with city staff in January to discuss the possibility of making the street one-way. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

BY LILLY NGUYENSTAFF WRITER

APRIL 14, 2022 5:32 PM PT

Commuters who use Fernleaf Avenue to travel from Ocean Boulevard north to Seaview Avenue will need to find another way as the Newport Beach City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to make Fernleaf a one-way southbound street for a trial period of six months.

Residents petitioned city staff in January to give a one-way designation to their block, citing concerns about traffic confrontations, congestion, damage to parked vehicles and delayed emergency responses, according to a presentation given Tuesday by city traffic engineer Antony Brine.

Residents from 14 of the 18 addresses located on the block joined the petition.

skidder

I had to look that one up on Google Maps. It doesn't look like it would affect bicycle traffic as most bicycles are riding through CdM on PCH . . . with the exception of cruiser bikers going to the beach, and I wouldn't expect the NBPD to prioritize bicycle enforcement in that area. More of an auto/truck traffic issue.

trailangel

When I lived in CDM I always rode up Fernleaf on PX10...45t in front, 21t in back... that was my lowest gear. I had to stand on it.... and you didn't dare stop the bike, or let a car try to pass.
If they make it one way..... I hope it's the uphill direction.
I liked Gina's Pizza in the Albertson's shopping center on PCH... but I don't think it's Albertson's anymore.

Garfield Cat

Gina's Pizza - I see the thin pizza. But I'm thinking East Coast or Chicago style. I mean not the Chicago deep dish, but even older when deep dish wasn't even created. Thin crust.

Now, the "one thing" about Italian is the sausage, and not the pepperoni.

How's the Italian sausage? Does it have fennel seeds in the sausage? I mean the roasted and crushed seeds.

trailangel

Going north on PCH I would cut-off and go out to Newport Beach and then cross to Balboa Island on the ferry, continue on Bayside, ride up Fernleaf, ride around to Little Corona, and then pickup PCH going south and continue on to Laguna. Would miss some traffic and was a nice break in the ride.
I don't know about the fennel seeds.. but Gina's always had a good salad. Haven't been there for years.

Garfield Cat

Very few Italian pizzas out there in Southern California. They all claim to be, but there is a big misconnect.

If you ever go to Manhattan, near New York University, on Carmine Street, there's a "Joe's Pizza". Students would go there to get a slice, right from the window. Try that one, not the cheese pizza, but the sausage pizza.

Here in the O.C. I tried Sabatino's in Lido Isle, Newport Beach. The guy is from Chicago and he used his mom's recipe. The sausage is close and he does use fennel. I met him recently; he's getting old and the restaurant just isn't what it used to be. Maybe because of the Pandemic.

But if you go to Sabatino's the customers are the same. There are plenty of restaurants in Newport Beach, but this one? It's in a private little place, not where you would want to do a restaurant. I think that's the attraction for the hoi polloi.

Andrew_G

Fernleaf Ave between Bayside Dr and the first street south (past the crest of the hill = Seaview Ave.) is currently two way and per the news article will remain as such. Bicycle traffic southbound is currently instructed by a posted sign to not ride up the hill (southbound) but instead walk bicycles up the hill on the opposite sidewalk.



The proposed traffic direction change makes the traffic past the crest of the hill become one way, southbound between Seaview Ave and Ocean Blvd.



Fernleaf Ave didn't always have the prohibition against bicycling up the hill (southbound) on the street. In early 2000s, I used to see the sign prohibiting uphill (southbound) riding appear and disappear. But the sign is a permanent fixture now.



When riding south thru CDM, I avoid traffic congestion on PCH by riding Bayside Drive-Marguerite Ave-Ocean Blvd-Poppy St. When returning north, I take Poppy St- 5th Ave. I rejoin PCH adjacent to the Chevron station just before MacArthur Blvd. Getting past the MacArthur turnoff requires good timing and attention; thankfully most drivers have been considerate.



I always use daytime running lights, too. I think the lights have improved my visibility in traffic and thus my safety.

bikeme

Bummer about not going uphill--that was a favorite hill sprint for my group back in the day. I haven't detoured off PCH in years, so I didn't know about it.