"Welcome Hiker" is a not-for-profit network of hikers who wants to share there experiences with (sheep) sleeping-accomodations for hikers. These Terms of Service ("Terms") apply to your access to and use of the website and the use of the network (collectively, our "Platform") provided by Welcome Hiker.
The use of this platform is subject to a number of rules. Below you can find the general conditions of our platform, as we are convinced that clear rules provide the best guarantee for a respectful community. By creating an account or otherwise accessing the Platform, you agree to these Terms.
Because Welcome Hike appreciates the feedback of the users of their platform, we welcome any ideas to further improve the platform. You can email your suggestions to info@welcomehiker.org.
Everyone can use the website. Registration is not necessary.
However, using the website as an unregistered user has some limits. Registered users can use more functionalities offered by welcomehiker.org.
Any citizen who wants to look for or share experiences with sleeping-accomodations. You can register with your email address.
Users must be at least 18 years old to use the platform. By creating an account, users immediately agree to the terms of use of Welcome Hiker.
The creation of an account by a user does not give this user ownership over the account. Welcome Hiker reserves the right to refuse, suspend or delete accounts, for example if the user does not comply with the following rules or inappropriate behaviour has been reported by a host or guest.
Each account must comply with the following rules
1. Every account is strictly personal
Each account must be unique and linked to a natural person. If you register for an account, you must provide accurate account information and promptly update this information if it changes. Every user has the right to create one account. If it is determined that one person has multiple accounts, Welcome Hiker reserves the right to delete all these accounts. Every user must be over 16 years old.
2. An account cannot be transferred to another person
Since each account is strictly linked to one specific person, this account cannot be transferred to another person without the permission of Welcome Hiker. This transfer ban must be considered in the broadest sense. Welcome Hiker reserves the right to refuse or delete this account in case of infringements.
3. An account cannot be used for commercial purposes.
The Welcome Hiker platform is intended to enable citizens who looks for accomodations near long distance hikes and share there experiences . Self promotion is not allowed. Any use of the account for the sole purpose of enjoying a commercial advantage is strictly prohibited.
4. The account information must always remain confidential
It is not allowed for any other person than the actual person who created the account, to use this account. The person who created the account must ensure that (s)he keeps the password and login details safe. We strongly advise you to use a 'strong' password (a password with a combination of lowercase, uppercase letters and numbers). We advise you to use a password manager. Welcome Hiker can under no circumstances be held responsible for any loss or damage incurred to the account if the above conditions are not met by the user. Welcome Hiker cannot be held responsible for theft of your account, by 'phishing' for example, either. Welcome Hiker will never ask its users for personal data such as a login or password via email. If personal data is requested, the user will always be redirected to the platform of Welcome Hiker. You are responsible for all activities that occur in connection with your account and accept all risks of unauthorized access.
5. Disclaimer
The platform Welcome Hiker is a citizen initiative. The volunteers behind Welcome Hiker will not take any responsibility for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of using the website.
Type of accomodations
Every user has the opportunity to propose sleeping-accomodations. However, accomodations must meet the following conditions :
- Hikers should have the option to stay only 1 night, without pay an additional fee, also during the weekend and public holidays
- Hosts must provide a breakfast or eveningmeal for there guest. If not possible a small kitchen must be available for self-cooking.
- If no eating option, restaurants should be located within walking distance.
- The accomodation must be located near a long distance walkingroute. If the distance is too far, the host must provide in a (free) taxi-service.
- Optional, host can provide a picnic.
To take control over new proposials, all entries will be moderated by Welcome Hiker. Users will informed by mail about the status. A refusal will be accompanied by a brief description. It is not possible to argue about this, Welcome Hiker will act in good conscience.
Type of hikes
Every user has the opportunity to propose day hikes. However, start and finished must be reachable by public transport (Bus, coach, tramway, train, subway)
Why is it possible to select only one trail ? This site is focussed on "how can I hike a complete longdistancepath using public transport". Day hikes who use more than one path to make circular walks is not part of this website.
Interactions with other members
You alone are responsible for your interactions with other users.
Welcome Hiker is a platform for users to propose and share accomodation experiences and communicate with one another to achieve this use. Users have the sole responsibility for any interactions with other users of the platform. Welcome Hiker has no involvement and no responsibilities or liabilities with respect to any communications or disputes between two users. Welcome Hiker will not be and cannot be held responsible for the interactions or consequences of interactions between users. Users release Welcome Hiker (and its volunteers) from claims, demands and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way connected with such disputes. Always keep safety and good judgement in mind when using the platform.
Limitations to content and use of the platform
To ensure that the Welcome Hiker platform is working properly and that you can communicate and connect with others, there are some restrictions to the type of content that can be published via the platform. These are as follows:
1.Offensive behaviour
We firmly believe in freedom of speech. However, in order to ensure that the platform can be used in a constructive way by all users, we do not allow offensive behaviour that constitutes harassment, intimidation or fear-mongering.
Accounts and related accounts that are used to perform the actions listed below can be temporarily blocked and / or permanently deleted.
Violent threats (direct or indirect): You may not threaten or promote violence. This includes the promotion of terrorism. Harassment: You may not incite to or be involved in deliberately insulting or harassing others. Here are some factors that we can take into account when assessing abusive behaviour: whether the main purpose of the reported account is harassing or sending offensive messages to others; whether the reported behaviour is unidirectional or contains threats; whether the reported account encourages others to intimidate another account; and whether the reported account sends intimidating messages to an account from multiple accounts. Hatred: You may not promote violence against other people or directly attack or threaten them on the basis of race, ethnic background, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, philosophical affiliation, religion, age, disability or illness. We also do not allow accounts whose main purpose is to incite others to do harm on the basis of these categories. Misuse of multiple accounts: Creating multiple accounts for overlapping use to avoid temporary or permanent suspension of an individual account is not allowed. Private data: You may not publish or post confidential data and private information of others without their express authorization and consent. These data include but are not limited to: credit card numbers, address details, telephone numbers or data that fall under the personal privacy of a person. Impersonation: You are not allowed to access the platform pretending to be someone else and specifically you may not deceive, confuse or threaten other users in this way. You may not be allowed to enter via the platform if someone else deceives, confuses or threatens in a manner that actually decks or threatens others.
2. Indemnity
You shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Welcomehiker.org (and each of its funders and/or volunteers) from any claim, demand, action, damage, loss, cost or expense, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out or relating to (a) your use of our services; (b) any member content or submissions you provide; (c) your violation of these terms; (d) your violation of any rights of another; or (e) your conduct in connection with the services. Further, if you are using the services on behalf of any entity, you represent and warrant that such entity agrees to indemnify you and WelcomeHiker.org for violations of these terms in accordance with this section. If you are obligated to indemnify us, we will have the right, in our sole and unfettered discretion, to control any action or proceeding and determine whether we wish to settle it, and if so, on what terms.
Limitation of Liability
Welcome Hiker - including volunteers - will not be liable to either users and/or hosts under any theory of liability—whether based in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, warranty, or otherwise—for any indirect, consequential, exemplary, incidental, punitive or special damages. The platform cannot be held responsible for any failure or delay in performing the terms. The platform cannot be held responsible for any liability in case of personal injury or death resulting from using it.
IN NO EVENT SHALL WELCOMEHIKER.ORG, A BELGIAN NONPROFIT ORGANISATION, OR ITS FUNDERS AND VOLUNTEERS, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF PROFITS OR LOSS OF DATA, WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO: (A) THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE OUR SERVICES; (B) THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OF ANY GOODS, SERVICES OR INFORMATION PURCHASED OR OBTAINED AS A RESULT OF ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM OUR SERVICES; (C) DISCLOSURE OF, UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR CONTENT; (D) DAMAGES FOR LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF DATA OR PROGRAMS, SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS OR PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES, EVEN IF WE KNOW OR HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES; (E) STATEMENTS, CONDUCT OR OMISSIONS OF ANY SERVICE PROVIDERS OR OTHER THIRD PARTY ON OUR SERVICES; (F) YOUR OR ANYONE ELSE’S CONDUCT OR ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THE SERVICES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, BODILY INJURY, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, DEATH OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES RESULTING FROM COMMUNICATIONS OR MEETINGS WITH OTHER REGISTERED MEMBERS OF OUR SERVICES OR PERSONS INTRODUCED TO YOU BY OUR SERVICES, WHETHER ON-LINE OR OFF-LINE; OR (G) ANY OTHER MATTER ARISING FROM, RELATING TO OR CONNECTED WITH OUR SERVICES OR THESE TERMS.
Spam
We strive at all times to protect the Welcome Hiker platform user from technical abuse and spam. Accounts that are used to perform the actions listed below can be temporarily blocked or permanently deleted.
Malware / phishing / viruses / worms / Trojans: You may not post malicious content or links to such content for the purpose of damaging or disrupting someone else's browsers or computers, or of violating someone's privacy. Spam: You are not allowed to use the Welcome Hiker platform to spam people.
Infringement of applicable laws
The use of the account may not in any way infringe applicable laws. This includes infringements against privacy legislation, intellectual property rights, the criminal code, etc.
The account may not be used to promote illegal activities in any way.
In case of breaches of the aforementioned rules
Welcome Hiker reserves the right to delete the relevant messages if it detects infringements of the aforementioned rules, and may even suspend or permanently delete user accounts.
Welcome Hiker cannot be held liable in any way for messages posted by users or third parties, which violate the rules specified above. If a user detects an infringement, please report this to the following email address: support@welcomehiker.org
It may occur that harmful files can be downloaded via the platform, whether or not due to a user, or that users place harmful hyperlinks. Every download by a user or click on a hyperlink, placed by a user, is done at the user’s own risk. Any damage incurred is completely and solely the responsibility of this user.
Intellectual property rights
Welcome Hiker respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects that users of this platform also respect these rights. Welcome Hiker reserves the right to remove content that infringes intellectual property rights. Repeated infringements of intellectual property rights of any kind by a user will result in the suspension or removal of the account by Welcome Hiker.
Infringements against intellectual property rights can be reported via the following email address: support@welcomehiker.org
Changes to these Terms
We may make changes to these Terms from time to time. If we make changes, we will post the amended Terms to our Platform and update the 'Last Updated' date above. We may also attempt to notify you by sending an email notification to the address associated with your account or give notice through our Platform. Unless specified otherwise in our notice, the amended Terms will be effective immediately and your continued access to and use of our Platform after we give notice will confirm your acceptance of the changes. In any case, changes to these Terms will not be retroactive. If you do not agree to the amended Terms, you must stop accessing and using our Platform.