BereaRides (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the “Service”).
1. Information We Collect
Account Information
When you create an account, we collect your Berea College email address (@berea.edu), full name, phone number, and profile photo. Account creation requires OTP (one-time password) verification through your @berea.edu email to ensure you are a current member of the Berea College community.
Location Data
We collect precise location data from your device when you use the Service as a rider or driver. For drivers, background location tracking is enabled while you are in “online” status to facilitate ride matching and real-time tracking. You can disable background location by going offline or through your device settings.
Payment Information
Payment processing is handled by Stripe, Inc. We do not store your full credit card number, CVV, or bank account details on our servers. Stripe’s privacy policy governs the handling of your payment data.
Usage Data
We collect information about your interactions with the Service, including ride history, ratings, messages sent through in-app chat, and device information (device type, operating system, app version).
Push Notification Tokens
With your permission, we collect push notification tokens to send you ride updates, driver arrival alerts, and other service-related notifications.
2. How We Use Your Information
- Ride matching and fulfillment — connecting riders with available drivers and providing real-time GPS tracking
- Identity verification — ensuring all users are verified Berea College community members
- Payment processing — facilitating secure transactions between riders and drivers through Stripe
- Safety and trust — maintaining ratings, resolving disputes, and investigating reported incidents
- Communication — sending ride status updates, receipts, and important service announcements
- Service improvement — analyzing usage patterns to improve the rider and driver experience
3. Information Sharing
We share your information only in the following circumstances:
- Between riders and drivers — when a ride is matched, we share limited information (first name, profile photo, vehicle details, real-time location) between the rider and driver for that ride
- Service providers — we share data with Supabase (database and authentication), Stripe (payments), Google Maps (mapping and routing), and Expo (push notifications) as necessary to operate the Service
- Legal requirements — we may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the safety of our users or the public
We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not share your data with advertisers.
4. Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored on Supabase’s infrastructure with row-level security policies enforced at the database level. Authentication tokens are stored using secure device storage (Expo SecureStore). All data transmission uses HTTPS/TLS encryption.
While we implement industry-standard security measures, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.
5. Data Retention
We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. Ride history and ratings are retained for the duration of your account. If you delete your account, we will remove your personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or necessary for legitimate business purposes (e.g., resolving disputes).
6. Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access and download your personal data
- Correct inaccurate information in your profile
- Delete your account and associated data
- Opt out of non-essential push notifications
- Disable background location tracking
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at jahatehs@berea.edu or shenderaz@berea.edu.
7. Children’s Privacy
The Service is intended for Berea College students, faculty, and staff. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes through the app or via email. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at: