Privacy Policy — RideCircles

1. Information We Collect

We collect only what's needed to coordinate carpools safely.

We collect the following categories of information:

Personal information — name, email, phone number
Children's information — names, grades, pickup locations
Vehicle information — make, model, capacity
Usage data — app interactions and feature usage

We collect this when you create an account, add children, or use the Service.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your data powers carpool coordination — nothing else.

We use your information to:

Provide and improve the Service
Match you with carpool circles
Send notifications about trips
Process account requests
Ensure safety

3. Location Data

We only track location during active trips, and only your circle members can see it.

What we collect: GPS coordinates of the driver's device during active trips only.
When: Location data is collected only when a driver starts a trip and stops when the trip is completed. We do not collect location data in the background.
Who can see it: Only members of the active carpool circle can view the driver's location during a trip.
Retention: Trip location data is retained for 30 days for safety records, then automatically deleted.

4. Children's Information

Children's data is provided by parents and visible only within your circle.

In compliance with COPPA, children's information (names, grades, pickup locations) is provided exclusively by parents or legal guardians. This information is visible only to members of the same carpool circle.

We do not collect information directly from children. Parents may request deletion at any time.

5. Information Sharing

We never sell your data. Period.

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. We share data only with:

Circle members — for carpool coordination
Service providers — hosting, analytics, under strict data agreements
Law enforcement — when legally required

6. Data Security

We use industry-standard security to protect your data.

We implement the following security measures:

Encryption in transit and at rest
Secure authentication
Regular security audits
Access controls

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.

7. Data Retention

We keep your data only as long as needed.

Account data is retained while your account is active.
Trip data is retained for 30 days.
Upon account deletion, personal data is removed within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

8. Your Rights

You can access, correct, export, or delete your data anytime.

You have the right to:

Access your personal data
Correct inaccurate data
Request deletion of your data
Export your data in a portable format
Opt out of non-essential communications

Exercise these rights through the app settings or by emailing support@ridecircles.com.

9. Cookies & Tracking

Our website uses minimal, essential cookies only.

Our website uses essential cookies for functionality. We use privacy-respecting analytics to understand how visitors use our site. We do not use third-party advertising trackers.

10. Contact Information

For privacy questions, contact our team at support@ridecircles.com.