Student Hand Tallies are a quick and effective way of gathering data from a transportation-related program or activity. Teachers, program staff, and/or volunteers can go to classrooms at participating schools and ask students how they get to school.

Here are a few suggestions on how to conduct student hand tallies:

• Notify the principal

• Be respectful of teachers’ and classrooms’ time

• List and explain all possible modes

• Define carpooling for younger students

• Record the number of students enrolled and the number of students present

• Ask students about the current day first, then the previous day 

• Hand out a parent survey for the students to take home to their parents

The National Center for Safe Routes to School has also developed a recommended methodology with survey forms.