CollegeTransit Privacy Policy
Effective Date: September 12, 2026
Last Updated: September 12, 2026
CollegeTransit (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and transparently handling your personal data across our website (collegetransit.com) and our mobile application (“CollegeTransit Mobile”). This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and your rights regarding your data.
1. Scope and Applicability
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected online through:
- The CollegeTransit website (collegetransit.com) and related web services.
- The CollegeTransit Mobile application available on iOS (App Store) and Android.
- Direct communications with our customer support, chat features, email, or text services.
2. Information We Collect
A. Website & E-Commerce Platform
When you register, book a trip, or interact with our website, we collect information necessary to complete transactions and provide services, including:
- Contact and Account Information: Full name, email address, mailing/billing address, and phone number.
- Payment Data: Payment card details processed securely through third-party payment processors (we do not store raw credit card numbers on our servers).
- Transaction History: Ticket purchases, trip selections, pickup locations, and order history.
- Cookies & Web Analytics: Standard browser cookies to manage shopping carts, maintain session logins, and collect aggregated website usage data.
B. CollegeTransit Mobile Application
Our mobile app is designed with a privacy-first approach. We collect only the data strictly necessary for app functionality and trip operations:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, and phone number (retrieved from your linked WordPress/WooCommerce account upon login).
- Account Identifiers: Your user ID (WordPress account ID linked to your bearer authentication token).
- Push Notification Device Tokens: Device Expo push tokens required to deliver real-time trip status, delay notifications, and bus assignment updates.
C. Information We DO NOT Collect via Mobile App
To ensure total transparency, please note the following data categories are not collected by our mobile application:
- Device Location: We do not request location permissions (no NSLocation* permissions or geolocation libraries are present in our app). Bus GPS location data originates exclusively from server-side vehicle feeds (e.g., Samsara) and never from passenger devices.
- In-App Purchase/Payment Data: Ticket purchases cannot be executed within the app; the app redirects to collegetransit.com for secure booking.
- App Usage Data & Analytics: No third-party analytics SDKs, event-tracking libraries, or behavioral tracking code are embedded in the app.
- Diagnostic & Crash Data: We do not integrate third-party crash reporting tools (such as Sentry or Crashlytics). Standard, anonymized crash diagnostics collected directly by Apple/Google via OS-level opt-in are managed independently by platform operators.
- Advertising & Tracking Identifiers: We do not access or collect Advertising IDs (IDFA/GAID) or perform cross-app device tracking.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use personal information strictly for legitimate operational and business purposes, including:
- Account & Service Management: Facilitating user login, displaying digital boarding passes, managing account details, and providing customer support.
- Order & Trip Fulfillment: Processing website ticket bookings, issuing travel confirmations, and managing passenger manifests.
- Service Alerts: Sending essential push notifications regarding bus arrival times, boarding updates, schedule changes, and travel alerts.
- Customer Support: Responding to inquiries submitted through our website chat, email, text, or support desk.
- Website Optimization: Analyzing aggregate website performance and maintaining shopping cart sessions.
4. How We Protect Visitor Information
We implement robust technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal data:
- Encryption: All sensitive transaction data and communications are transmitted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology and encrypted in transit and at rest.
- Access Controls: Personal data is stored behind secured networks with restricted access granted only to authorized personnel bound by confidentiality obligations.
- Third-Party Processors: Payment gateways and hosting partners adhere to industry-standard PCI-DSS security guidelines.
5. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, rent, or lease your personally identifiable information to third parties. We may disclose personal data only under the following limited circumstances:
- Service Providers: Trusted third-party service providers (such as hosting partners, database administrators, and automated messaging processors) who assist in operating our platforms and delivering services, provided they agree to maintain confidentiality.
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or legal process, or when necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of CollegeTransit, our passengers, or the public.
6. App Store Connect — App Privacy Disclosure Summary
In alignment with Apple’s App Store Connect requirements, the following table summarizes our App Privacy (“nutrition label”) declarations for CollegeTransit Mobile:
| Data Category | Data Type | Collected? | Linked to Identity? | Used for Tracking? | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Info | Name, Email, Phone Number | Yes | Yes | No | App Functionality (Login, boarding pass display, trip updates) |
| Identifiers | User ID (WordPress Account ID) | Yes | Yes | No | App Functionality (User session management) |
| Identifiers | Device ID (Expo Push Token) | Yes | Yes | No | App Functionality (Trip status push alerts) |
| Location | Device GPS / Geolocation | No | N/A | No | Data Not Collected |
| Usage Data | Product Interaction, Analytics | No | N/A | No | Data Not Collected |
| Diagnostics | Crash Logs, Performance Data | No | N/A | No | Data Not Collected |
| Purchases | Purchase History, Payment Info | No | N/A | No | Data Not Collected (Handled via web browser) |
7. Data Retention and Account Deletion
We retain your personal information for as long as your account remains active or as needed to fulfill services and comply with legal or accounting obligations.
Account Modification & Deletion Rights:
- You may update or correct your profile details by logging into the “My Account” section on collegetransit.com.
- You can request complete deletion of your account and personal data by contacting us via our support channels or modifying preferences in “My Account.” Transaction records required for legitimate accounting or legal purposes will be retained as permitted by law.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website utilizes cookies to remember items in your shopping cart, understand site navigation preferences, and optimize site tools. You can choose to disable cookies through your web browser settings; however, certain features of our booking platform may not function properly without cookies enabled. The CollegeTransit mobile app does not utilize cookies or tracking SDKs.
9. Third-Party Links
Our website and app may contain links to third-party sites (e.g., payment gateways, route partners). These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We hold no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites, but we welcome feedback regarding link integrity.
10. Updates to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in legal requirements, operational practices, or mobile app features. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage users to review this policy periodically.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions, comments, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out to us:
12. Consent and Acceptance
By accessing or using the CollegeTransit website, downloading or using the CollegeTransit Mobile application, or booking services with us, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy and our Terms and Conditions.
If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please discontinue use of our website and mobile applications immediately.
- Website Support: collegetransit.com/contact-us
- Live Support & Chat: Accessible via the CollegeTransit website support assistant