Privacy Policy

We collect only the information necessary to effectively coordinate carpools. This includes personal information such as your name, email address, and phone number; children's information such as names, grades, and pickup locations; vehicle information including make, model, and seating capacity; and usage data related to your interactions with the app and its features. This information is collected when you create an account, add children, or use the Service.

Your information is used solely to operate and improve the Service. Specifically, we use your data to provide and enhance platform functionality, match you with relevant carpool circles, send trip-related notifications, process account requests, and support overall platform operations. We do not use your information for unrelated purposes.

We collect location data only during active trips and limit its visibility strictly to relevant users. GPS coordinates of the driver's device are collected only when a trip is actively in progress and stop once the trip ends. We do not collect location data in the background. During an active trip, location information is visible only to members of the same carpool circle. Trip location data is retained for a limited period for safety and record-keeping purposes and is automatically deleted thereafter.

Children's information is provided exclusively by parents or legal guardians and is used solely for carpool coordination within a trusted circle. In compliance with applicable laws, including COPPA, we do not collect information directly from children. Information such as names, grades, and pickup locations is visible only to members of the same carpool circle. When you leave a circle, your children's information is no longer accessible to that group. Parents or guardians may request deletion of this information at any time.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Information is shared only as necessary to operate the Service, including with other circle members for coordination purposes, with trusted service providers who support hosting and analytics under strict confidentiality obligations, and with law enforcement or authorities when required by applicable law.

We implement industry-standard security measures designed to protect your information, including encryption in transit and at rest, secure authentication protocols, access controls, and regular security reviews. While we take reasonable steps to safeguard your data, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure.

We retain your information only for as long as necessary to provide the Service and fulfill legal obligations. Account-related data is retained while your account remains active. Trip-related data is retained for a limited period for operational and safety purposes. Upon account deletion, personal data is removed within a reasonable timeframe, except where retention is required by law.

You have control over your personal information and may access, correct, export, or delete your data at any time. You also have the option to opt out of non-essential communications. These rights can be exercised through your account settings or by contacting us at support@ridecircles.com.

Our website uses minimal, essential cookies required for core functionality. We use privacy-focused analytics to better understand how users interact with our site. We do not use third-party advertising trackers.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at support@ridecircles.com.