The Big Walk on South Candler

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

It may have taken a little longer to get to school and work on Wednesday morning along S. Candler St. in Decatur as parents, children, students, runners, walkers, people out for a stroll and more came out to support The Big Walk on South Candler. GDOT officials and local community members were on hand at the intersections of South Candler and Kirk Rd., East Dougherty St. and East Pharr Rd to get counts of people crossing the busy road. The event started bright and early at 7 a.m. and lasted until 9 a.m. GDOT officials counted 48 people crossing S. Candler at Kirk Rd. in the first 45 minutes of the event. A local resident was keeping tally at E. Dougherty St with 93 people crossing in the first hour. The event was to help show that there is demand for more safe crossing options in the area.

Traffic zooms through the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur on Wednesday morning.

Traffic zooms through the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur on Wednesday morning.

Sydney Balcom (left) and Sophia Aiken cross S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. on their way to school on Wednesday morning.

Sydney Balcom (left) and Sophia Aiken cross S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. on their way to school on Wednesday morning.

Margaret Bell (left) and her father Griffin corss S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. in Decatur on her way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Margaret Bell (left) and her father Griffin corss S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. in Decatur on her way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Theresa Stephens (left) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur to let Max Bankruijssen cross on his way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Theresa Stephens (left) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur to let Max Bankruijssen cross on his way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Crossing guard Theresa Stephens (left) talks to a young student on the way to school as she waits for the traffic light to change at the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Crossing guard Theresa Stephens (left) talks to a young student on the way to school as she waits for the traffic light to change at the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Theresa Stephens (left) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur so people can cross on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Theresa Stephens (left) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler St. and Kirk Rd. in Decatur so people can cross on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

A large group of people cross S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. in Decatur on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

A large group of people cross S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. in Decatur on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Ashley Ikpelue (left) with GDOT keeps a tally of people who cross S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. in Decatur during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Ashley Ikpelue (left) with GDOT keeps a tally of people who cross S. Candler St. at Kirk Rd. in Decatur during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

People cross Kirk Rd. at S. Candler in Decatur on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

People cross Kirk Rd. at S. Candler in Decatur on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Maurice Johnson (right) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler and E. Dougherty streets in Decatur so people can cross on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Maurice Johnson (right) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler and E. Dougherty streets in Decatur so people can cross on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Maurice Johnson (right) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler and E. Dougherty streets in Decatur so people can cross on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.

Maurice Johnson (right) stops traffic at the intersection of S. Candler and E. Dougherty streets in Decatur so people can cross on their way to school during the Big Walk on South Candler event on Wednesday morning.