1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Contact Forms: When you contact us, we collect your name, email address, and message content
• Fare Calculations: Trip origin/destination selections and fare preferences (not stored permanently)
• Feedback: Voluntary feedback about our calculator or service improvements

Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Analytics: How you interact with our fare calculator (via Google Analytics)
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, screen resolution
• IP Address: Anonymized for analytics and security purposes
• Cookies: Essential functionality and analytics cookies (see Cookie Policy below)

2. How We Use Your Information

Primary Uses

• Service Provision: Providing accurate DC Metro fare calculations
• Customer Support: Responding to your questions and providing assistance
• Service Improvement: Understanding how users interact with our calculator
• Technical Maintenance: Ensuring our website functions properly and securely

Analytics and Optimization

• Usage Patterns: Understanding which calculator features are most helpful
• Performance Monitoring: Ensuring fast load times and accurate calculations
• Error Detection: Identifying and fixing calculation or technical issues
• Content Improvement: Enhancing our fare guides and FAQ sections

3. Cookie Policy

Essential Cookies

• Functionality: Remember your calculator preferences during your session
• Security: Protect against spam and abuse
• Consent Management: Remember your cookie preferences

Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics 4)

• Usage Statistics: Anonymous visitor counts and page views
• Performance Data: Page load times and user engagement
• Feature Usage: Which calculator features are most popular
• Geographic Data: General location data (city/state level only)

Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense)

• Ad Personalization: Showing relevant ads based on interests
• Ad Performance: Measuring ad effectiveness
• Frequency Capping: Limiting how often you see the same ad

4. Third-Party Services

Google Analytics 4

• Purpose: Website analytics and performance monitoring
• Data Shared: Anonymous usage data and page interactions
• Privacy Settings: IP anonymization enabled, enhanced user privacy
• Opt-Out: Use Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

Google AdSense

• Purpose: Displaying relevant advertisements to support our free service
• Data Shared: Page content and user interests (anonymized)
• Privacy Controls: Visit Google Ad Settings to manage personalization
• Ad Choices: Click "AdChoices" on ads for privacy options

WMATA Data Sources

• Public Information: We use publicly available WMATA fare schedules
• No Direct Connection: No data is shared with or received from WMATA
• Independent Service: We are not affiliated with WMATA

5. Data Security

Security Measures

• HTTPS Encryption: All data transmission is encrypted
• Content Security Policy: Protection against XSS and injection attacks
• Secure Headers: Additional browser security protections
• Regular Updates: Software and security patches applied promptly

Data Minimization

• Limited Collection: We only collect data necessary for service provision
• Anonymous Analytics: Personal identifiers are not used in analytics
• Local Processing: Fare calculations happen in your browser, not on our servers
• No Permanent Storage: Trip calculations are not saved or stored

6. Your Privacy Rights

Data Control

• Access: Request information about data we've collected about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured format

Cookie Management

• Browser Settings: Configure cookie preferences in your browser
• Our Banner: Use our cookie consent banner to manage preferences
• Google Tools: Use Google's privacy tools for Analytics and AdSense
• Do Not Track: We respect Do Not Track browser signals

7. Children's Privacy

Our service is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

Family Use

• Supervised Access: Children may use our calculator under parental supervision
• No Registration: No account creation or personal information required
• Educational Use: Safe for educational purposes about public transportation

8. International Users

While our service focuses on Washington DC Metro, we welcome international visitors planning trips to DC. Your data may be processed in the United States.

GDPR Compliance (EU Users)

• Legal Basis: Legitimate interest in providing our service
• Data Minimization: Only necessary data is collected
• Rights: Full GDPR rights including portability and erasure
• DPO Contact: Contact us for data protection concerns

CCPA Compliance (California Users)

• Information Categories: See "Information We Collect" section above
• Business Purpose: Service provision and improvement
• No Sale: We do not sell personal information to third parties
• Rights: Access, deletion, and opt-out rights available

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will:

• Notify Users: Post prominent notice of significant changes
• Email Updates: Send email notifications if you've contacted us
• Version History: Maintain previous versions for comparison
• Effective Date: Clearly indicate when changes take effect

10. Contact Information

Privacy Questions

For questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices:

• Email: contact@dcmetrofarecalculator.com
• Subject Line: "Privacy Policy Question"
• Response Time: Within 30 days for privacy requests

Data Protection Officer

For GDPR-related inquiries or data protection concerns:

• Email: dpo@dcmetrofarecalculator.com
• Subject Line: "GDPR Request" or "Data Protection"
• Required Information: Your request type and contact details