What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They help websites remember information about your visit, which can make your next visit easier and the site more useful to you.

How Cookies Work

• Storage: Cookies are stored locally on your device by your web browser
• Retrieval: When you return to our site, your browser sends these cookies back to us
• Information: Cookies contain information about your preferences and interactions
• Expiration: Cookies have expiration dates and may be temporary or persistent

Types of Cookies We Use

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Cookies that remain on your device for a set period
• First-Party Cookies: Set directly by our website
• Third-Party Cookies: Set by external services like Google Analytics and AdSense

Cookies We Use on DC Metro Fare Calculator

Cookie Category	Purpose	Examples	Duration
Essential Cookies	Required for basic website functionality	Cookie consent preferences, security features	Session or 1 year
Analytics Cookies	Help us understand how visitors use our site	Google Analytics (_ga, _ga_*, _gid)	2 years
Advertising Cookies	Used to show relevant advertisements	Google AdSense cookies	Up to 2 years
Functionality Cookies	Remember your preferences and settings	Calculator preferences, language settings	Session or 1 year

Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for our website to function properly. They enable basic features like security, network management, and accessibility.

What We Use Essential Cookies For

• Cookie Consent: Remember your cookie preferences and choices
• Security: Protect against cross-site request forgery and other security threats
• Load Balancing: Distribute site traffic across our servers
• Session Management: Maintain your session while using our calculator

Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics 4)

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors interact with our DC Metro fare calculator. This helps us improve our service and provide better tools for calculating Metro fares.

Information Collected

• Page Views: Which pages you visit and how long you spend on them
• User Interactions: How you use our calculator features
• Geographic Data: General location information (city/region level)
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, screen resolution
• Traffic Sources: How you found our website

Privacy Settings

• IP Anonymization: Your IP address is anonymized
• Enhanced Privacy: Google Signals is disabled for additional privacy
• No Personal Data: We don't collect personally identifiable information
• Data Retention: Analytics data is automatically deleted after 26 months

Opt-Out Options

• Browser Settings: Block analytics cookies in your browser
• Google Analytics Opt-out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Our Cookie Banner: Decline analytics cookies using our consent banner

Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense)

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements that help support our free DC Metro fare calculator service. These ads are designed to be relevant to your interests.

How Advertising Cookies Work

• Interest-Based Ads: Show ads related to your browsing interests
• Frequency Capping: Limit how often you see the same advertisement
• Performance Measurement: Track ad effectiveness and engagement
• Personalization: Customize ads based on previous website visits

Ad Personalization Controls

• Google Ad Settings: Manage personalization at myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy
• AdChoices: Click the "AdChoices" icon on ads for options
• Browser Settings: Block advertising cookies in your browser
• Industry Opt-outs: Visit aboutads.info for industry-wide opt-out tools

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalization for your Metro fare calculation experience.

Functionality Features

• Calculator Preferences: Remember your preferred fare calculation settings
• Display Options: Save your preferred units and display formats
• Language Settings: Remember your language preference (when available)
• Accessibility Options: Store accessibility preferences for improved usability

Benefits

• Faster Calculations: Pre-fill common calculation parameters
• Better Experience: Customized interface based on your preferences
• Reduced Clicks: Remember frequently used options
• Accessibility: Maintain accessibility settings across visits

Managing Your Cookie Preferences

Our Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner allowing you to:

• Accept All: Allow all cookies for the full website experience
• Decline: Block non-essential cookies (analytics and advertising)
• Change Later: Modify your preferences by clearing browser data and revisiting

Browser Controls

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Here's how to manage cookies in popular browsers:

Chrome

1. Click the three dots menu → Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
2. Choose your preferred cookie settings
3. Manage exceptions for specific sites

Firefox

1. Click the menu button → Settings → Privacy & Security
2. In the Cookies and Site Data section, adjust your preferences
3. Use "Manage Data" to control specific site cookies

Safari

1. Click Safari → Preferences → Privacy
2. Adjust "Block all cookies" settings
3. Use "Manage Website Data" for specific controls

Edge

1. Click the three dots menu → Settings → Cookies and site permissions
2. Click "Cookies and site data"
3. Configure your cookie preferences

Third-Party Services

Google Analytics

• Service: Web analytics platform
• Privacy Policy: policies.google.com/privacy
• Opt-out: Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on
• Data Retention: 26 months (automatically deleted)

Google AdSense

• Service: Online advertising platform
• Privacy Policy: policies.google.com/privacy
• Ad Settings: www.google.com/settings/ads
• How Google Uses Data: policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

Impact of Disabling Cookies

Essential Cookies

Disabling essential cookies will significantly impact your experience:

• Calculator Functionality: Some features may not work properly
• Security Features: Reduced protection against malicious attacks
• Session Management: Difficulty maintaining your session

Analytics Cookies

Disabling analytics cookies means:

• Anonymous Usage Data: We can't see how you use our calculator
• Improvement Insights: Reduced ability to improve our service
• Performance Issues: We may not detect problems as quickly

Advertising Cookies

Blocking advertising cookies results in:

• Generic Ads: Less relevant advertisements
• Ad Frequency: You may see the same ads repeatedly
• Revenue Impact: Reduced support for our free service

Data Security and Retention

Security Measures

• Encryption: All cookie data is transmitted using HTTPS encryption
• Secure Cookies: Authentication cookies are marked as secure
• HttpOnly Flags: Sensitive cookies are protected from JavaScript access
• SameSite Protection: Cookies include SameSite attributes for CSRF protection

Data Retention

• Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
• Persistent Cookies: Automatically expire based on their set duration
• Analytics Data: Automatically deleted after 26 months
• User Control: You can delete cookies anytime through browser settings

International Users

GDPR Compliance (European Union)

• Lawful Basis: Consent for non-essential cookies, legitimate interest for essential functions
• Rights: Access, rectification, erasure, and portability of cookie data
• Consent Management: Clear cookie consent mechanism
• Data Protection: Appropriate technical and organizational measures

CCPA Compliance (California)

• Information Categories: Identifiers, internet activity, geolocation data
• Disclosure: We may share cookie data with service providers
• No Sale: We do not sell personal information collected through cookies
• Rights: Request access, deletion, and opt-out rights

Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements.

When We Update

• Service Changes: When we add new features or services
• Technology Updates: When we implement new tracking technologies
• Legal Requirements: To comply with new privacy regulations
• Best Practices: To align with industry standards

Notification Process

• Website Notice: Prominent notice on our website
• Effective Date: Clear indication of when changes take effect
• Significant Changes: Additional notification for major updates
• Continued Use: Using our service after changes indicates acceptance

Contact Information

Cookie Questions

For questions about this Cookie Policy or our cookie practices:

• Email: contact@dcmetrofarecalculator.com
• Subject Line: "Cookie Policy Question"
• Response Time: Within 5 business days

Data Protection Requests

For GDPR or privacy-related requests:

• Email: privacy@dcmetrofarecalculator.com
• Subject Line: "Privacy Request" or "Cookie Data Request"
• Information Needed: Specific request type and contact details