Your information

Privacy Policy

Effective October 24, 2026

The short version: Subway Status has no ads, analytics, tracking or user accounts, and never sells your information. Some optional features send information to the Subway Status server so your sign can show it; you can turn each of them off.

Bluetooth and device configuration

Bluetooth is used to discover, connect to and configure a compatible Subway Sign display. Display settings you choose are sent from your iPhone to your sign.

Wi-Fi credentials

If you provide Wi-Fi credentials, the app sends them straight to your sign. When your phone isn't connected to the sign directly, they pass through our server over an encrypted connection, only to be delivered. The server deletes the password as soon as your sign confirms it, or after a day if the sign never collects it. Once delivered, the password is stored on the sign only.

Your sign and the Subway Status server

To show arrivals, weather and updates, your sign connects to the Subway Status server. The server receives the stations and lines your sign is set to show, the sign's software version and Wi-Fi signal strength, and short diagnostic logs used to fix problems. Each sign has its own anonymous device ID.

Optional live features

If you link the app to your sign, you can choose to send the following to the server so the sign can display it:

Preferences, such as sports teams, extra stops, and saved places for drive-time estimates.
Calendar: titles, times and locations of your next upcoming events (up to 40).
Music: the song currently playing in Apple Music, or your Spotify playback if you connect Spotify. Connecting Spotify stores an access token that lets the sign show what is playing.

Each feature is off until you turn it on. Turning off Calendar or disconnecting Spotify deletes that information from the server; other information stays until it is replaced or you ask for it to be deleted.

Style ratings

If you rate display styles in the app, your ratings are sent with a random ID created on your phone. They are not linked to your name or account.

Email updates

If you reserve a sign or leave your email address on the website to hear when signs are ready to order, your email address is stored on the Subway Status server with the date you signed up and, if you picked one, the color you reserved. It is used only to send you that news, is never sold or shared, and is deleted if you ask at the address below.

Third-party services

The server requests public information from services such as the MTA (transit), Open-Meteo (weather) and ESPN (sports scores), and from Spotify if you connect it. These requests contain only what is needed, such as a station, a location for weather, or your Spotify token. The server runs on Cloudflare, which processes technical information such as IP addresses as part of handling requests.

Data retention and sharing

Information is kept only as long as it is needed to run your sign, and is replaced as new information arrives. The developer does not sell or share it with anyone else. To have information about your sign deleted, email the address below.

Children’s privacy

Subway Status is not directed to children and does not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated if the app’s features or data practices change. The effective date above will identify the current version.

Contact

For privacy questions, email robertbergbaum@aol.com.