Privacy Policy
Last Updated: March 2026 | Effective: Pilot Phase
This Privacy Policy explains how EZSchoolRide (operated by Bridgeway Innovations LLC, Illinois) collects, uses, and protects personal information. Because our platform serves minors, we take privacy obligations especially seriously. Please read this policy carefully before using the platform.
1. Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to all users of EZSchoolRide, including:
- Student riders (ages 14 and above)
- Student drivers (licensed, ages 16 and above)
- Parent and guardian drivers
- Parents and guardians of minor users
EZSchoolRide does not knowingly permit use by anyone under 13 years of age. If we discover that a user is under 13, we will immediately delete their account and all associated data.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide
- Full name and age
- School affiliation and grade
- Email address and phone number
- Parent or guardian name and contact information
- Driver's license information (for drivers only)
- Proof of auto insurance (for drivers only)
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
- Real-time location data - collected only during active ride sessions when the GPS feature is enabled
- Device type and operating system
- App usage activity and session logs
- Ride history (origin, destination, date, time, participants)
2.3 Pilot Phase - No Payment Data: During the current pilot phase, no real payment information is collected. EZPoints are non-monetary and no credit card, bank account, or financial data is stored by EZSchoolRide.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information solely to:
- Operate the platform and match riders with drivers
- Verify school affiliation and user eligibility
- Confirm driver license and insurance status
- Enable optional real-time ride tracking for safety purposes
- Send ride confirmations, safety alerts, and platform notifications
- Investigate reported safety incidents or policy violations
- Improve platform performance and user experience
We do not use your information for advertising, marketing to third parties, or any purpose unrelated to operating EZSchoolRide.
4. Location Data - Detailed Disclosure
Because we collect location data involving minors, we are providing full transparency about how this works:
4.1 When Location Is Collected
- Location data is only collected during an active, confirmed ride session.
- Location tracking begins when a driver marks a ride as started and ends when the ride is marked complete.
- Location is never collected in the background when the app is closed or when no ride is active.
4.2 Who Can See Location Data
- The matched rider can see the driver's approximate location during an active ride.
- The parent or guardian of a minor rider may access ride tracking if enabled in account settings.
- EZSchoolRide staff may access location logs only to investigate a reported safety incident.
4.3 How Long Location Data Is Stored
- Real-time location is not permanently stored.
- Ride route summaries (start/end points) are retained for up to 90 days for safety and dispute resolution purposes, then deleted.
4.4 How to Opt Out
Location tracking is optional. Users may disable GPS tracking in app settings. Disabling tracking does not prevent use of the platform but may reduce certain safety features.
5. Children's Privacy & Parental Consent
EZSchoolRide is designed for users aged 14 and above. Because most of our users are minors (ages 14-17), we apply heightened privacy protections.
5.1 Parental Consent Required
- A parent or legal guardian must provide consent before any user under 18 creates an account.
- Consent covers both account creation and the collection of personal data described in this policy, including location data.
- Consent is collected at registration via a digital acknowledgment that is timestamped and logged.
5.2 Parental Rights
Parents and guardians have the right to:
- Review all personal information collected about their child.
- Request correction of inaccurate information.
- Request deletion of their child's account and all associated data.
- Withdraw consent at any time by contacting support@ezschoolride.com.
COPPA Notice: EZSchoolRide does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe your child under 13 has created an account, please contact us immediately at support@ezschoolride.com and we will delete the account and all data within 48 hours.
6. Data Sharing & Third Parties
EZSchoolRide does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party. We share data only in the following limited circumstances:
6.1 Service Providers
- Payment processors (e.g., Stripe) - for future payment features only; no payment data collected during pilot phase.
- Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers - to store and operate the platform securely.
All service providers are contractually required to protect your data and may only use it to provide services to EZSchoolRide.
6.2 Safety & Legal Disclosure
We may disclose information without consent only when required by law or to protect safety, including:
- In response to a valid court order, subpoena, or legal process.
- To law enforcement or school authorities when we believe there is an imminent risk of harm to a user or third party.
- To investigate or respond to a reported safety incident on the platform.
6.3 No Advertising or Data Selling
EZSchoolRide does not and will never sell user data to advertisers or data brokers. The platform does not serve advertisements.
7. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including:
- Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
- Secure access controls and authentication
- Limited staff access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
- Regular review of security practices
However, no digital platform can guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach affecting minor users, we will notify affected parents or guardians and relevant authorities as required by Illinois law.
8. Illinois Privacy Compliance
EZSchoolRide operates under Illinois law and takes the following state-specific obligations seriously:
- We comply with the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), which governs data breach notification requirements.
- We do not collect biometric identifiers or biometric information as defined under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
- We comply with Illinois Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA) principles, applying appropriate safeguards to student data even outside the formal school system.
9. Data Retention
We retain personal information only as long as necessary:
- Active account data: retained while the account is open.
- Ride history and summaries: retained for 90 days after the ride, then deleted.
- Safety incident logs: retained for up to 2 years for legal and safety purposes.
- Deleted account data: removed within 30 days of account deletion request, except where retention is required by law.
10. Your Rights & Choices
All users (and parents of minor users) have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data.
- Opt-out: Disable optional features such as location tracking at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@ezschoolride.com. We will respond within 30 days.
11. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as the platform evolves. When material changes are made, we will notify users through the app and require parents or guardians of minor users to re-confirm consent. The updated policy will always be available within the app.
Bridgeway Innovations LLC | Illinois, United States
