Welcome to 4eRide. Your privacy is of paramount importance to us. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, process, and disclose your information, including personal information, in conjunction with your access to and use of the 4eRide mobile application and our website.
1. Information We Collect
To provide our ridesharing platform, we collect two categories of information: information you provide directly and information collected automatically through app usage.
A. Information You Provide
- Account Information: When you register as a Rider or Driver, we collect your Name, Email Address, Phone Number, and Profile Photo.
- Verification Information (Drivers only): To maintain platform safety, we may request vehicle registration details, license plate numbers, and driver's license details.
- Communication Data: When you use our in-app chat features to coordinate with other users, we store those messages to facilitate the ride.
B. Information Collected Automatically
- Location Data (Riders and Drivers): We collect precise location data to coordinate pickups, route progression, and dynamic fare calculations. More details are provided below under Section 2.
- Device Data: We collect details about the mobile device you use, including device model, operating system, and unique device identifiers (such as Firebase Cloud Messaging tokens).
2. Location Access and Background Tracking
Background & Foreground Location Tracking: 4eRide requires precise location tracking to work effectively. We collect location data from the moment an active ride starts until it is marked as completed or canceled.
- For Drivers: Location coordinates are broadcast continuously while your ride is active. This allows riders to see your live ETA, location on the map, and pick-up spot.
- For Riders: Location coordinates are collected to show you nearby active rides, match you to drivers, and compute your drop-off progress index.
Foreground Service Use: In the 4eRide Android application, we employ a persistent **Android Foreground Service** to track and broadcast location coordinates. This ensures that GPS tracking remains active and does not drop even if the application is minimized, the phone screen turns off, or you use another app during the ride.
Note: Location collection ceases immediately once the ride is completed or closed. We do not track your location when you are offline or when no active ride is in progress.
3. How We Use the Information
We use the collected information for the following core purposes:
- To matches riders and drivers going in the same direction.
- To calculate dynamic passenger segmentation, fares, and progress indexes.
- To send transactional and security push notifications (e.g. Booking requests, Counter-offers, Messages).
- To contact you regarding customer support requests or platform safety notices.
4. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We share information only to facilitate rides:
- Rider to Driver (and vice-versa): During an active ride, we display the rider's name, profile photo, location details, and requested seats to the driver. Similarly, we display the driver's name, vehicle details, and current coordinates to the matching riders.
- Service Providers: We share data with third-party platforms to power features, such as Firebase (hosting, database, and push notifications) and Google Maps API (routing and map rendering).
5. Notifications & Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
We use Firebase Cloud Messaging to coordinate time-sensitive actions. This includes sending notifications for new booking requests, counter-offers, driver responses, and in-app chat messages. You can manage notification permissions directly through your device's app settings.
6. Data Security and Retention
We implement secure server architectures (Firebase Firestore & Firebase Functions) and encrypted connections (HTTPS) to protect your personal data. We retain your information as long as your account is active.
7. Account Deletion and Data Control
You have control over your data. You may request to delete your account or any personal data at any time by contacting our support team at support@4eride.com. Upon verification, we will permanently delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is legally required.
8. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions about this Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us:
- Email: support@4eride.com
- Website: go.4eride.com