Summary:Fall colours cycling Peterborough, Ont. This Saturday, veteran cycling guide David Swales will lead a fall colours cycling tour. After spending several years abroad with renowned travel company Butterfield and Robinson, Mr. Swales has recently returned home to develop local getaways. The 60-kilometre fall colours route unfolds along flat bike paths and rolling farmland, and offers a combination of natural features and historic highlights. Starting from downtown Peterborough, the tour takes riders north along the Otonabee River, past the Trent University campus and the historic Trent Canal, to the villages of Lakefield and Warsaw. Participants then enjoy a picnic lunch on the shore of Indian River, with good chances of seeing soaring osprey and great blue heron.
Location: Toronto; Peterborough; Ontario;
Subject: travel; tourism; hiking; festivals

Detail: This Saturday, veteran cycling guide David Swales will lead a fall colours cycling tour. After spending several years abroad with renowned travel company Butterfield & Robinson, Mr. Swales has recently returned home to develop local getaways. The 60-kilometre fall colours route unfolds along flat bike paths and rolling farmland, and offers a combination of natural features and historic highlights. Starting from downtown Peterborough, the tour takes riders north along the Otonabee River, past the Trent University campus and the historic Trent Canal, to the villages of Lakefield and Warsaw. Participants then enjoy a picnic lunch on the shore of Indian River, with good chances of seeing soaring osprey and great blue heron.

Cost: $99, including use of a high-end Devinci hybrid bike, helmet, souvenir water bottle, picnic lunch, and services of a professional guide.

When: Saturday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: The tour starts and ends in Peterborough, about 1½ hours northeast of Toronto.

How: For more information, call (416) 599-8747 or visit http://www.weekendtrips.com.

For 41 years Ernie Helwig has enjoyed living next to and driving on the River Road.

Yesterday he scoffed at a Trent University idea to realign River Road so it would bypass the university campus to improve student safety and provide a route to the proposed DNA cluster site.

Helwig, who lives midway between Lakefield and Peterborough, said the winding road which follows the Otonabee River is considered a jewel by tourists and others out for a leisurely drive.

"Over the years traffic has increased, which isn't so good," he said. "People love this road. It'ss something I know."

Of several persons interviewed, including Peterborough city and county councillors, most didn't want the long-established route changed.

Paul Ross said he lives in. Peterborough and works in Lakefield.

"I use the River Road all of the time. It's fine the way it is and I don't want to see it changed," he said.

Ross was also concerned that if Trent gets its way be may not be able to drive to some of his cherished fishing sites near the university.

Harry Hepburn, of Clear Lake, shook his head after hearing the Trent idea.

"That would be a shame," he said. 'The university would be taking away something that belongs to everybody."

Jim Stewart, of McKellar Street, said he supports the road realignment because it would improve campus safety. By keeping cars away from the river water pollution would diminish, he added.

* Coun. Jack Doris said the proposed realignment is "a natural evolution in the development of Trent."

Doris said a new road would provide a good route to the propose DNA cluster project.

"It's good planning for the future," he added. "The little road that goes through the universitynow would not be sufficient for future traffic."

* Otonabee-South Monaghan Reeve Dave Nelson said the River Road is provincially significant.

"People come from all over just to drive along the river from Peterborough to Lakefleld. It's a big attraction," he said. "I can't see county council supporting Trent on this."

* Coun. Henry Clarke said council had been made aware of the university proposal, but so far there has been no discussion on it.

"There would have to be a lot of discussion regarding the route andthe reasons for (realignment)," Clarke said. "I admit that as a Peterborough person, who has spent many years driving along that river bank, I'd rather see the River Road stay as is."

* Coun. Paul Rexe said the proposal would have to go through the city planning process, and probably require an official plan amendment to the major transportation plan, rezoning, a land transfer agreement because the road is city owned and extensive discussions on an alternate route.

Being a teacher at Trent he said he is aware of campus safety concearns and problems with snow removal from the River Road.

"If the university has a proposal it would be subject to the planning process, public hearings, public deputations and delegations. We (council) would sit and listen to arguments an both sides and from there try to make a decision that's in the best interests of everyone."

* Conn. Bill Juby said the River Road through the Trent cam-pus is a pleasant drive and there would have to be good reasons before he would consider closing it to the public.

He said council may have to look at a second road if the DNA cluster becomes reality.

* Asphodel-Norwood Reeve Doug Pearey said he doesn't e the route and wouldn't oppose a realignment if it improved campus safety.

"The big question is who is going to pay. If they ask the county we may not have the money."

* Douro-Dummer Reeve Eric Batten questioned Trent's safety concern.

I don't see why a new road is needed," he said. `I drive that road often and I rarely see anyone walking across it (at the university)."

1) Trent buries its head

Trent University seems to have the dubious distinction of having insulated itself from the community it is located in. Living in Peterborough for the last few years we have found no perceptible imprint of this institution of higher learning on the cultural, intellectual or social life of the city and surrounding communities.

When Trent does make news in the local media it is mostly about its enrolment trends, physical expansion, and success in garnering taxpayers' money or corporate largesse. There is also, of course, the annual coverage of the graduation pomp and ceremonies.

Other than that, what makes one aware of the existence of a university in this community is a leisurely drive through the stretch of the scenic River Road that passes through the campus. I suppose that the leading lights of Trent University have decided that this too in an intrusion into their cloistered domain that the unlettered townsfolk must not trespass.

The issue of student safety is nothing but a red herring. I have never seen a student crossing the stretch of River Road passing through the Trent campus, nor is there a practical need for it. The west and east buildings of the univesity are connected by a spacious pedestrian bridge with no need to walk across River Road or paddle across the Otonabee River.

HASSAN GARDEZI
Walker Avenue

2) Use both routes

I can't understand the polarity the Trent University/River Road discussion. t doesn't have to be an either/or situation. How about a bypass road and the existing scenic route? For the heavy traffic and those in a hurry the bypass route. For those who like marvel at the beauty of our university, the scenic route.

DALE LAMB
Spillsbury Drive

River Road is destined to become a scenic route for pedestrians and cyclists connected to the Rotary Trail with a massive foot bridge spanning the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Acting city CEO Malcolm Hunt said Nassau Mills Road, known to many as River Road, will remain open to automobile traffic if Ring Road is built to accommodate Trent's DNA cluster. But he expects the motor traffic will dwindle, making it a perfect place for walking and bike riding.

"River Road will become a much quieter piece of road," Hunt said. "It will be a much more pleasant pedestrian and cycling experience hugging the river's edge."

He said bridging the gap in the Rotary Trail, which is interrupted at the end of Armour Road and picks up again near the rowing club, will make it an even better experience.

Hunt said the plan is to extend the trail across Nassau Mills Road and over the Trent-Severn Waterway where it splits from the Otonabee River with a bridge about seven meters high.

The bridge has to be that high, he said, to accommodate the large boats riding the waterway.

"When you're 22 feet above the Trent Canal, you've got some amazing views," Hunt said.

Plans have been underway to bridge the trail's gap for four or five years, he said, but figuring out how to do it has been a difficult process.

"If there's such a thing as a missing link, this is it," Hunt said. "It has been the most challenging part of the trail, but it will be the most spectacular."

Trent administration vice-president Don O'Leary said Ring Road will bypass about a kilometer of River Road if it's built for the DNA cluster.

Drawings of the cluster show residential, commercial and research and innovation development surrounding Trent's campus.

The plans show possible developments were on both sides of Water Street, the university entrance and the new Ring Road. There is also potential development neat Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 23 and on both sides of a green belt that includes nature trails.

City Coun. Jack Doris said closing River Road may have been discussed years ago, but it was never likely to happen.

"Everyone has come to understand the community values the vistas and scenic drive," he said.

O'Leary said Ring Road, which would be a city decision to build, has been in Trent University's master plan since its inception 40 years ago.

O'Leary said he's happy with the plan to build Ring Road because it will mean more safety for student walking on River Road.

"We're concerned because of the missing link on the Rotary Trail," he said. "People have to find their way down the stretch of road and we're concerned about that."

O'Leary added the new road, which will ride on an elevated area, will also be a nice drive.

"It will enhance the area," he said. "It will be spectacular from a higher level."

Editorials - It appears a controversy over the future of a scenic piece of roadway that runs through Trent University has been quietly settled.

That would be a fitting end. The roadway – officially Nassau Mills Road but generally known as River Road – is celebrated for its quiet nature and should become more that way if a new plan is followed. And this was a "controversy" that never really got past the quiet stage.

What people think of as the charming River Road drive along the east bank of the Otonabee River from Peterborough to Lakefield actually comes in three sections: the north part of Armour Road in the city; Nassau Mills Road through Trent's campus; and River Road from the city boundary to Lakefield.

The names, however, are not important. What motorists find enticing is the nature of the route. Narrow and winding, it runs within a few feet of the river for most of its length. River Road is the slow, peaceful lane in a fast-lane society and many don't want to see even a small piece of it lost.

Or rather, they don't want to see any more of it lost. The most southerly section has already been moved further from the river to accommodate development along Armour Road.

Trent University officials have always been aware of that background, which may be why they have not pushed hard to implement a plan to close the one-kilometre section through the campus and replace it with a larger road that would serve easterly expansion plans. The reconfigured road plan appears on long-range planning maps but the River Road closure always drew criticism when discussed and Trent never formally asked the city to endorse it.

The issue came up again late last week when Trent held an open house regarding future development of what are known as its endowment lands – 1,400 acres of vacant space, some of it targeted for commercial and residential development that will generate revenue for the university. A map included with the Endowment Lands Master Plan shows a new Ring Road to the east of the current campus and downgrades River Road to an extension of the Rotary Trail bicycle and hiking path.

The trail concept has also been on the books for some time and makes good sense. Currently, Rotary Trail ends at the south campus border. Because there is no bridge across the Trent Canal, trail users have to detour along Nassau Mills-River Road. The trail resumes at the north end of the campus and continues to Lakefield.

What both city and university officials are now saying is that the canal will be bridged and Rotary Trail will run unbroken through Trent – although still along the narrow portion of River Road.

The difference is that the plan now is to keep River Road open to motorists and build the easterly Ring Road. Cyclists and hikers would have to share the scenic route with cars and trucks, but it would presumably have less traffic when there is a wider, more modern alternative road to use.

As in the past, none of these plans have gone beyond the concept stage. The Ring Road is expected to cost more than $1 million; a bridge over the canal high enough to allow boat traffic to pass underneath would also be expensive. Money will have to be found for both projects.

However, Trent's expansion to the east has begun with construction of the first phase of a new DNA/forensic science centre. The Ring Road will soon become a necessity and completion of the final link in the trail to Lakefield will be too logical to put off any longer.

Trent is to be congratulated for accepting – at least for now, and somewhat grudgingly– that moving forward into the future doesn't require tearing a piece out of the community's historic slow route along the Otonabee River.

The River Road North issue came up about five years ago. At that time, the people using River Road North made it very clear they didn't want the road changed in any way. Why are we wasting city councillors' time revisiting this issue?

Part of the charm and beauty of living in and around Peterborough is the fact that the Otonabee River is accessible to everyone. I regularly travel River Road from Peterborough to Lakefield so that I can enjoy the peace and beauty. It would be a sad day for Peterborough and area residents to have this destroyed, bit by bit, because of individual self interests.

When Trent University came to Peterborough, its administration was well aware River Road went through its property. The individuals in charge saying it isn't safe for students to have a road running through their property is ludicrous. Even elementary schools have roads going by their front doors. Children have learned safety rules for the road. If students attending a university can't follow basic safety rules, they should return home to their parents.

It puzzles me that an institution of higher learning would even contemplate removing a section of an historical scenic road, denying the general public of its use.

My family strongly objects to any change to River Road North on the grounds that it has historical significance, is part of Peterborough's tourism industry, and that local residents wish to continue to enjoy the scenery and beauty of the Otonabee River.

Janice Simmonds
Peterborough

Hassan N. Gardezi's letter ("Trent buries its head." Oct. 19) summed up what must be the sentiment of most people who appreciate the pleasure of the unbroken River Road drive.

Peterborough city council has some competent members and it was a bit disappointing when they did not speak up on behalf of their constituents, after all it was they who gave very generous financial support to the university. The university couls also show a bit more kindness to - as Mr. Gardenzi states - the unlettered townsfolk.

Fred MGovarin
RR 11, Peterborough