The Regional Transit System (“RTS”) mobile application (“RTSConnect” or “App”) provides public transit information and helps users plan and use public transportation (“Services”). RTS is committed to protecting the privacy of certain user personal information we collect through RTSConnect (name of App). This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) describes our policies and practices regarding how we collect, use and disclose information that you submit or that we obtain in connection with your use of RTSConnect and Services. This Policy should be read in conjunction with any notice or privacy policy and terms of use provided by RTS at RTS Terms & Conditions [LINK: https://go-rts.com/rtsconnect-app-terms-of-use/].

BY ACCESSING OR USING RTSConnect, YOU CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, USE, AND SHARING OF YOUR INFORMATION AS SET FORTH IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. Please read this Policy carefully before using RTS Connect or submitting personal information to us. This Policy is incorporated into and subject to the Terms of Use at RTS Terms & Conditions.

Changes to this Policy

We reserve the right to make changes to this Policy at any time. In the event we make material changes to the Policy, we will provide notice through RTSConnect. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to RTSConnect and will apply to your use of the App after the “effective date” listed above.

You understand and agree that your continued use of RTSConnect after the effective date means that the collection, use, and sharing of your personal information is subject to the updated Policy.

Except to the extent we receive your authorization or as permitted or required by applicable law, we will handle your data in accordance with the terms of the Policy in effect at the time we collect your information.

Information We Collect

Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

  • Account means a unique account created for You to access our Service or parts of our Service.
  • Company(referred to as either “the Company”, “We”, “Us” or “Our” in this Agreement) refers to Regional Transit Service, 34 SE 13th Rd, P. O. Box 490, Station 5, Gainesville, FL 36627
  • Cookie sare small files that are placed on Your computer, mobile device or any other device by a website, containing the details of Your browsing history on that website among its many uses.
  • Country refers to: Florida, United States
  • Device means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone or a digital tablet.
  • Personal Data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual.
  • Service refers to the Website and the Regional Transit Service app.
  • Service Provider means any natural or legal person who processes the data on behalf of the Company. It refers to third-party companies or individuals employed by the Company to facilitate the Service, to provide the Service on behalf of the Company, to perform services related to the Service or to assist the Company in analyzing how the Service is used.
  • Third-party Social Media Service refers to any website or any social network website through which a User can log in or create an account to use the Service.
  • Usage Data refers to data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).
  • Website refers to Go-RTS, accessible from http://go-rts.com
  • You means the individual accessing or using the Service, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Service, as applicable.

Collecting and Using Your Personal Data

Types of Data Collected

  • Personal Data
    While using Our Service, including the Regional Transit Service app, We may ask You to provide Us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify You. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:
  • Email address
  • First name and last name
  • Phone number
  • Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
  • Work address

Specific points of destination or favorite destinations

Usage Data: We collect personal information you voluntarily submit when you register for an account or visit RTSConnect. We collect information when RTSConnect is installed on your device or you connect with the App using your existing social media profiles. RTSConnect will also passively or automatically collect information from your browser or device. We use this information to operate RTSConnect, provide the Services, carry out our business, comply with laws, and for other purposes described in this Policy.

You do not need to register for an account to use other features on the App. If you choose to use RTSConnect and Services without setting up a registered Account, RTSConnect will still link your information with a User ID generated for you, which is necessary in order for us to provide you with the core features of our Services.

How We Use Your Personal Information

In general, we use the personal information we collect only for the purpose it was collected, for compatible purposes, as permitted or required by law, as necessary to carry out our contractual duties and obligations, and as otherwise provided in this Policy. For example, we may use your personal information in the following ways:

  • To enable your use of RTSConnect and Services.
  • To determine and ascertain user accounts, or verify user identity.
  • To provide information, products or services that you request including tracking your trips and aiding you with navigation and personalizing Services and content for you or connecting you with third party operators.
  • To communicate with you, including sending messages about the availability of our App, Services, security, or other service-related issues. (You may change your communication preferences at any time. Please be aware that you cannot opt-out of receiving service messages from us, including security and legal notices.)
  • For statistical and research purposes and to create and use aggregated anonymous data which is necessary to maintain, develop and improve our Services, including to determine navigation and routes, and connect riders.
  • For other everyday business purposes such as contract management, IT and App administration and security, fulfillment, fraud prevention, corporate governance, reporting and legal compliance.
  • To communicate with you in social media concerning our products and services.
  • To carry out our obligations and enforce our rights including those arising from any contracts entered into between you and us.
  • To provide customer service and engage in quality control activities concerning our products and services.
  • To use the information to create statistical, aggregated or anonymous data which may be used at our discretion for any purpose.
  • For testing, research, analytics and product and service development.
  • To respond to law enforcement requests and as required by applicable law, court order, governmental regulations, or other lawful processes; for public safety purposes.
  • As necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, security, and safety of us, our employees, our consumers, our information systems, and the public.
  • To engage in marketing and advertising activities. This includes sending users communications about features, promotions, sweepstakes, studies, surveys, news, updates and events. We may also send communications to our users to provide promotional information and participation in the promotions, as well as information regarding offers to our services and the services of our collaboration partners.
  • To allow us, and our selected third parties (as further detailed in this Privacy Policy), to provide you with personalized interest based advertisements, which may be served either on the Services and/or on other websites, apps, and services, and to better understand your activity.
  • We may also use the information we collect to send users communications about products and services offered by our partners, but we do not sell your email address, name, or other identifying information to, or share such information with, such partners or others for purposes of their own direct marketing or advertising, except as set forth in this Privacy Policy.

Information collected from App installation

When RTSConnect is installed on your mobile device, RTS will set up a user account associated with that mobile device and create a User ID for you. This is a unique identifier generated by us in accordance with this which is necessary in order for us to provide you with our Services. After installation of RTSConnect, we will collect and use the User ID, together with certain other information including Metro area and certain device information which may include your device ID or other unique identifier, advertising ID, unique device token, device type, operating system (including version and settings), as well as your device screen resolution and keyboard language, all in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We may link this information with the account created in connection with your mobile device and User ID.

Statistical Data

To monitor utilization of RTSConnect and improve its quality, we may compile statistical information through analytics services. This might include collecting and analyzing the number of visitors to the App, patterns of traffic flowing through RTSConnect, and information regarding your clicks, and your referral URL to reflect data collected in RTSConnect. The analytics services may transfer this information to third parties in case of a legal obligation or if a third-party processes data on behalf of that service. We may use this information to generate aggregate statistics about visitors to our App. Please check your web browser if you want to learn what information your browser sends or how to change your settings.

Other Usage Data

RTSConnect will also collect information when you access and use RTSConnect and Services such as tokens of social networks you choose to connect to your account, your public transit historical searches on the Services, your saved routes and most used stations as well as you your in-app settings and in-app scores (“points”). We will use this to provide the Services, enhance your experience, and personalize the Services we provide to you.

Geolocation Data

We will collect location information such as your geolocation, route, and travel information to provide you with services. When you use RTSConnect, we collect detailed location, including GPS signals and other device sensor data such as gyro/oscilloscope, sent by your mobile device on which the Service is installed and activated. This enables us to provide you with the Service and to create a detailed location history of your public transit trips.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE COLLECT YOUR LOCATION DATA IN THE BACKGROUND EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT USING THE APP TO PERSONALIZE THE SERVICES AND MAXIMIZE YOUR USER EXPERIENCE AND TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT INFORMATION SERVICES. YOU MAY CHOOSE TO DISABLE AND OPT-OUT FROM THIS BACKGROUND COLLECTION OF DATA UNDER THE APP’S PRIVACY SETTINGS SCREEN.

Personal information collected from other sources

In certain circumstances, we may collect personal information about you from third parties who have assured us that they have either obtained your consent to share such information or that you have freely and publicly provided such information. We may use this information to make your experiences with us more personal and social or share and use it as described elsewhere in this Policy.

Information we derive

We may derive information or draw inferences about you based on the information we collect. For example, we may infer your location based on your IP address, or we may make inferences about your preferences and activities you may enjoy based on, among other things, your past location searches and other usage of RTSConnect.

Cookies and Similar Technology

We use certain cookies and similar technologies on RTSConnect to collect some of the data described above. A cookie is a small file consisting of letters and numbers that automatically collects certain information from you. This file uniquely identifies and recognizes your browser or device and transmits information back to the server. Depending on the cookie type, it may perform functions such as remembering your user preferences, improving the quality of your visit, remembering the name or address you entered during a visit, or allowing us and our analytics partners to collect information about the pages and screens you view, the links or ads you click, and other actions you take when using our Services. Some of this information may also be collected from your device or software, when the Services are running in the background, i.e., when they have been launched but are not actively used.

You may control cookies, including preventing or stopping the installation and storage of cookies, through your browser settings and other tools. Most browsers will allow you to block or refuse cookies. However, you may need to manually adjust your preferences each time you visit a site. For more information, see the Help section of your browser. Please note that if you block certain cookies, some of the services and functionalities of our Site may not work.

Embedded Content. RTSConnect contains embedded content (e.g., videos). Embedded content may place third party cookies on your device that track your online activity to enhance your experience or assess the success of their application. We have no direct control over the information these cookies collect, and you should refer to their privacy policy for additional information.

Controlling cookies. You may control cookies, including preventing or stopping the installation and storage of cookies, through your browser settings and other tools. Most browsers will allow you to block or refuse cookies. However, you may need to manually adjust your preferences each time you visit an App. For more information, see the Help section of your browser. Please note that if you block certain cookies, some of the services and functionalities of our App may not work.

IMPORTANT: By using RTSConnect, you consent to the processing of any personal information for the analytics purposes and other functions described above.

Disclosure of Information

We may share your personal information for the reasons that we may use it as described in this Policy, which includes disclosing it to our affiliates and non-affiliated third parties, as we deem necessary to carry out those purposes. For example,

Third Party Vendors. We may need to share this information with a member of our group partners, vendors, or service providers with your consent or as you direct; to manage RTSConnect and provide Services; for cloud storage hosting, database and server co-location services, data and cyber security services, payment processors, fraud detection and prevention services, App analytics tools including session replay records for usability and functionality monitoring and analysis, services for measuring our Services attribution and the efficacy of our publication and marketing efforts (such as service changes), sending notices and communications, e-mail distribution and monitoring services, and our business, legal and financial advisors. These service providers may receive or otherwise have access to our users’ personal information, depending on each of their particular roles and purposes in facilitating and enhancing our Services and business, and may only use it for such purposes.


We endeavor to choose affiliates and non-affiliates with similar standards to ours regarding the protection of data.

Third Party Services. We may offer you the option to link RTSConnect to third party services that may be useful to you, such as ride hailing services. Where we detect that an integration may be available (either because a third party service attempts to link to RTSConnect, RTSConnect detects an installed service on the device which has an integration option or you request a particular integration), RTSConnect will ask for confirmation to connect the accounts. If you choose to connect the accounts, RTS Connect will ask for your permission to share data with the third party service. You should only agree to connect accounts if you are comfortable with the third party service receiving the data set out at the time of connecting the accounts. We are not responsible for the privacy or other practices of such third party services and cannot guarantee the security of personal information that you provide or is collected by such. You can disconnect MyRTS and the third party service at any time and RTSConnect will cease sharing data with that service from the point of disconnection onwards.


Governmental/Law Enforcement Agencies and Legal Requests or Duties. We may disclose or otherwise allow access to your personal information pursuant to a legal request, such as a subpoena, search warrant or court order, or otherwise in compliance with applicable laws, with or without notice to you, if we have a good faith belief that we are legally required to do so, or that disclosure is appropriate in connection with efforts to investigate, prevent or take action regarding actual or suspected illegal activity, counter terrorist financing verification requirements, fraud or other wrongdoing.


Protecting Rights and Safety. We may also disclose your information to protect, establish or defend our interests and legal rights. We may share your personal information with others, with or without notice to you, if we have a good faith belief that this will help protect the rights, property or personal safety of RTS, any of our users or any member of the general public.


Change in Control or Sale. We can share, sell, assign, or license your personal information in connection with certain business transactions, such as a sale, acquisitions, merger, or change in control, or in preparation for any of these events. In such cases, we will take appropriate steps under the circumstances and to the extent possible to ensure that the recipient agrees to provide privacy protections substantially similar to those established by this Policy. Any entity that acquires all or substantially all of the RTS’ assets will have the right to continue using your data consistent with this Policy or as otherwise agreed to by you.


We may transfer, share or otherwise use anonymized, aggregated or non-personal information in our sole discretion and without the need for further approval.

In no case will we sell or license your data to third parties, except as set forth above or as required or permitted by law.

Safeguarding of Information

We employ reasonable and appropriate administrative, physical and technical measures designed to protect the security of personal information we collect from you. However, no system for safeguarding personal or other information is 100% secure and although we have taken steps to protect your personal information from being intercepted, accessed, used or disclosed by unauthorized persons, we cannot fully eliminate security risks associated with personal information.

Your Choices Regarding Your Personal Information

You can always limit the information you provide to us, but if you choose not to provide certain requested information, you may be unable to access some of the services, offers, and content on RTSConnect.

Links to Third Parties’ Apps and Third-Party Integrations

We provide links to websites or resources outside of RTSConnect for your informational purposes only. We may also provide links to third party integrations. Third party integrations are website or platforms that synchronize with RTSConnect to provide you with additional functionality, tools, or services such as maps, sending requested information, etc.

You acknowledge and agree we are not responsible for the availability of third party apps, resources, or integrations and do not endorse and are not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, goods, services or other materials on, available through, or provided by such apps, resources, or integrations. We are not responsible for the privacy or other practices of such apps, resources, or integrations and cannot guarantee the security of personal information that you provide, or is collected by, such apps. We encourage you to review the privacy policies and terms and conditions on those linked apps, resources, or integrations.

Promotional and Surveys Messages

In addition to communications that are an inherent part of our Services, occasionally we may use your contact information to notify you about new services and special opportunities or promotions we think you will find valuable. We may also contact you in connection with surveys we conduct with respect to our services or in connection with general public transportation issues, either on our own behalf or on behalf of our partners. We may contact you through e-mail, push notifications, through notices on the Services themselves or through any other contact methods available to us, including with the help of our service providers.

If you do not wish to receive such promotional messages or calls, you may notify RTSConnect at any time or by following the “unsubscribe” or “stop” instructions contained in the promotional communications you receive. As for messages we send through push notifications, you may opt-out of receiving such notification by changing your device or App settings.

Information on Children

RTSConnect is not directed to children as the products and services on this App are intended for persons 13 years of age and older. We do not knowingly collect, use or disclose any personal information from children. If we learn that personal information of persons less than 13 years-of-age has been collected through our App, we will take the appropriate steps to delete this information.

Applicable law

This Policy is governed by the internal substantive laws of Florida without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Jurisdiction for any claims arising under or out of this Privacy Policy shall lie exclusively with the state and federal courts within Florida. If any provision of this Policy is found to be invalid by a court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Policy, which shall remain in full force and effect.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this Policy or how we collect and use your personal information, please contact us at (352) 334-5011.