Fernleigh track scare puts women on alert

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said the ‘‘scary’’ incident happened near Kahibah at 2pm on Thursday as she cycled past two men wearing hoodies.

It follows reports, confirmed by police, that a man exposed himself to a walker at Glenrock late last month. The incidents, reported and shared on Facebook, have seen some cyclists, runners and walkers stay away from the popular track due to fears for their safety.

The woman said she had an uneasy feeling as she approached the men and had thought about turning around.

‘‘As I went through them, one of the men lunged at me, almost knocking me off my bike,’’ she said.

‘‘He was yelling out things at me but to be honest, I have no idea what was said as I was focused on riding away.’’

The woman was angry at the thought of what might have happened had she been riding with her daughter, or knocked off the bike.

She said women should be able to use their track on their own without worrying about their safety.

‘‘It is not always possible to find a riding companion and a public walking track should be a safe place,’’ she said.

She believes this incident is a one-off but is concerned about other issues on the track.

‘‘Just today my husband told of one of his friends that was hit by a skateboarder that just rode off, he seriously injured his elbow,’’ she said.

Meg McGrice, of Cessnock, usually runs along the track twice a week.

‘‘I used to run on the Fernleigh Track every single day, and I wasn’t with anyone half the time,’’ she said.

‘‘I think this will make me a lot more cautious.’’

Ms McGrice runs with a local women’s running group, and believes there is security in numbers.

‘‘The greatest thing about the Night Striders is you can put a call out and there can be at least four or five of you going for a run,’’ she said.

‘‘If I didn’t get any takers on a run I definitely wouldn’t go by myself there now.’’

But police said people should not be deterred from using the track.

‘‘We are always seeking witnesses to these incidents, and if anyone has any information we would love to hear from them,’’ Charlestown Detective Sergeant Matthew Hemsworth said.

Melissa Horvat, of Whitebridge, has also been wary since the reports emerged.

‘‘I’m usually there at least four days a week,’’ she said.

‘‘I haven’t been for the past few days. I’m just worried, really. I like to run during the day in my lunch break but I may not do that now. Maybe I’ll just stick to the elliptical trainer at home for a while.’’

Vicki Coughlan, of Adamstown, shared the post on the Newcastle Cycleways Movement Facebook page.

‘‘It has attracted so much attention,’’ she said.

‘‘There are so many people saying they’re not going to go there any more, which isn’t what I was intending.‘‘I just wanted to make people aware. I ride the track, often alone, and I’ve never felt unsafe.’’