Privacy Policy

Cycle Maps is a free, ad-supported Android app, published under the same name. This page describes what information the app handles and where it goes. Last updated: 2026-10-04.

No account, no sign-in

The app has no accounts. On first launch it generates a random identifier that is stored only on your device. It is sent to the server only when you rename a track you uploaded, so that only you can rename it.

Location

The app asks for location permission to show your position on the map and keep the map centred on you. Your position is used on the device only and is not stored or sent anywhere by the app. Location is used only while the app is on screen; the app does not track you in the background and does not record rides.

When you search for tracks, the app sends the centre of the map you are looking at and the search radius to the Cycle Maps server, which answers with tracks near that point. Searches are not tied to your identifier. To find the tracks, the server asks Waymarked Trails, a service that lists the cycling routes mapped in OpenStreetMap, for the routes in the area around that point. Waymarked Trails receives that area only, not your IP address or your identifier. The server writes request lines to its log, which includes that point; logs are not used for anything else and are deleted after 30 days.

When the app opens without a position fix, it asks the server where to open the map. The server does not look up your IP address and answers with no position.

Map tiles

The map's style and vector tiles are loaded from OpenFreeMap, which receives the standard web request for each one, including your IP address and which part of the map you are viewing. The app sends it nothing else and uses no API key. Map data is © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles © OpenMapTiles.

Advertising

The app shows interstitial ads through Google AdMob. The AdMob SDK may collect device identifiers and other information under Google's privacy policy. The app itself does not send ad activity or your position to anyone.

Favourites and files

Tracks you mark as favourites are saved as files in the app's private storage on your device. They are included in Android's app backup if you have it enabled.

Uploaded tracks

Earlier versions of the app could record rides and publish them to the public map. The current app does not record or upload tracks, and the server it talks to does not hold or show the tracks uploaded earlier. The tracks it lists are routes from OpenStreetMap.

Children

The app is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect personal information from them.

Changes

Changes to this policy are posted on this page with a new date.

Contact

Questions about this policy: support@getcyclemap.com.