RidgeLink Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 20, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information RidgeLink ("RidgeLink," "we," "us") collects, how we use it, and the choices you have. RidgeLink is a backcountry ride-community app for snowmobilers, dirt-bike / enduro riders, mountain bikers, side-by-side and ATV riders. By creating an account or using the app, you agree to this policy.

1. Information we collect

Information you give us

• Account details: your name, email address, and password (stored only as a securely hashed value — we never store your plain-text password). If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive a unique identifier and basic profile info (name, email) from that provider instead of a password.
• Profile details: your chosen sport(s), skill level, bio, home area / location text, and profile photo.
• Content you create: map pins, snow reports, photos and videos, "zones," trails and GPS routes, ride-day plans, ride history, certifications, and the messages and comments you send.
• Safety Check-In details: when you use Safety Check-In, we collect your trip plan, planned return time, and the name and phone number of any emergency contact you add. By adding a contact, you confirm you have their permission to provide their number for this purpose. We delete this information when the trip ends or when you delete your account.
• Payment information: if you subscribe to RidgeLink Pro or buy a Zone Tip, payment is processed by Stripe. RidgeLink does not receive or store your full card number — we store only a Stripe customer/subscription/account identifier used to manage your subscription and purchases.

Information collected automatically

• Precise location (GPS): with your permission, we use your device's location to center the map, show nearby riders and conditions, match ride days by distance, record GPS routes you choose to track, power Safety Check-In location pings, and (once per sign-in) save your approximate area to your profile so distance-based features work. You can turn location off at any time in your device settings; some features will be limited.
• Technical & error data: to keep the app working we use Sentry for crash/error monitoring, which may collect device, browser, and error information when something goes wrong. We configure it to avoid capturing your precise location or account details.

2. How we use your information

• To provide the app: show the map, pins, photos, snow/trail conditions, and the social features (matching, messaging, friends, groups, calendar).
• To find and show nearby riders, ride days, and content based on distance.
• To operate Safety Check-In and overdue escalation: track your trip timer on our server and, if you become overdue, alert the emergency contacts you chose and — only if you opt in for that trip — nearby riders.
• To process and manage your RidgeLink Pro subscription and Zone Tip purchases (via Stripe).
• To keep the community safe: review reports, act on blocks, and prevent abuse.
• To diagnose and fix errors and improve reliability.
• To send you in-app notifications about activity relevant to you (ride requests, messages, likes, etc.).

3. How your information is shared

We do not sell your personal information. Information is shared only:

• With other users — by design. Your profile (name, avatar, sport, skill, bio, general location, public reputation) and any content you post publicly is visible to other riders. Content you mark private or friends-only is limited accordingly. Your email, exact home coordinates, and payment details are not shown to other users.
• Community safety alerts (opt-in): if you turn on community alerts for a trip and become overdue, nearby riders may be shown your first name, sport, general area, and that you need help — never your phone number, home location, full route, or profile.
• With service providers that operate the app on our behalf (see §7).
• For legal reasons — if required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of RidgeLink, our users, or the public.

4. Location information

Because RidgeLink is a mapping and rider-matching app, location is central to how it works. We ask for location permission through your device, and you can grant or revoke it at any time in your device or browser settings. Location sharing is off by default and is chosen per trip or group; turning it off deletes the stored point. When you publish a ride, we trim roughly 150 m from each end so your start and finish (often your home or vehicle) are not exposed. When you post content (such as a pin, photo, or zone) at a location, that location is shared according to the visibility you choose. We do not expose your exact stored home coordinates to other users.

5. Safety features — important limitations

6. Your privacy rights (including California)

• Sensitive information: precise geolocation is treated as "sensitive personal information" under California law (CPRA). We use it only to provide the features described above and for security — not to infer characteristics about you, and not for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• No sale or sharing: we do not sell or "share" (as defined by the CPRA) your personal information.
• Your rights: depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of your personal information, to opt out of sale/sharing, and to limit the use of sensitive information. We honor these requests and will not discriminate against you for exercising them. To make a request, contact us (§12).

7. Third-party services

We rely on the following providers, some of which process data in the United States. Each has its own privacy practices:

8. Your choices and controls

• Access & edit: you can view and edit your profile and content in the app.
• Delete your account: you can permanently delete your account and associated data at any time from Profile → Danger Zone → Delete my account. This removes your profile, pins, photos, messages, zones, routes, history, and other data from our database.
• Location & sharing: turn location access on or off in your device settings, and turn trip/group location sharing on or off in the app.
• Report & block: you can report content and block other riders from within the app.
• Requests: to make a privacy request or ask a question, contact us (§12).

9. Data retention & security

We keep your information for as long as your account is active and only as long as needed for the purposes above or as the law requires. When you delete your account, your personal data is removed from our active database; emergency-contact details are deleted when the trip ends or your account is deleted. We protect your information with measures including hashed passwords, encrypted connections (HTTPS), restricted visibility of other users' data, and secure session handling. If a breach affecting your personal information occurs, we will notify you and the applicable authorities as required by law. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work to protect your data.

10. Children's privacy

RidgeLink is intended for riders aged 16 and older. It is not directed to children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 16. If you believe someone under 16 has provided us information, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will revise the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, notify you in the app. Continued use of RidgeLink after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

12. Contact us

RidgeLink is operated by Ridge Link LLC (a Wyoming limited liability company), 114 Drum Dr, Douglas, WY 82633, USA. Questions or privacy requests? Contact us at sledlines@gmail.com.