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AIBU?

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AIBU to report toys left outside house blocking a narrow pavement?

111 replies

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:22

I walk down a certain street very regularly to get to a certain place. The building I have to get to is at the end of this street and there are no other ways to access it. Outside this one house, there is constantly toys there free to a good home. I think it's lovely leaving toys out for people who may not be able to afford them, or just as a way of repurposing them so they don't immediately end up in landfill.

However, the toys are there constantly, and it's not just a few, either. It's about 3-4 boxes worth every other week, and the public path that they are left on is veeeery narrow. I was walking past today with the pram with my DD2 in it and a loose toy on the floor caused the pram to tip almost into the road before I caught it.

I knocked on the door and said to the man who answered that it's really lovely he's leaving these toys out for free, but would he mind putting them in his front garden as my pram had nearly jusut tipped into the road due to a loose toy on the floor. He said he can't put them in his front garden as it's really small and has a wall in front so no-one would see them, and that no-one else has complained about it so maybe just be a bit more careful going around it. I said I was careful but it's really hard to get past because the path is so narrow, then suggested maybe just leaving 1 box at a time so it's less of a hazard. He said he's not just leaving 1 box as he has no room in his house and wants them gone, then suggested I walk on the road (!) So I don't have to dodge them. I told him I won't be walking in the road with my daughter in the pram and he needs to do something about it and left it at that. For context, there is no path on the other side of the street.

Honestly I just feel a bit annoyed that I tried to address it politely and was met with a 'it's not my problem' attitude.

Aibu to report this as fly-tipping? I really don't want to as it would make me feel awful knowing they have kids and I'm reporting them and going to get them fined or whatever, and I know they're being generous by giving away the toys for free. I just feel I've already tried to address it and there's not much more I can otherwise do, and it's just generally getting annoying I'm ngl. I'm also weary that he is going to know that it was me who reported him, and I have to walk past this house pretty frequently.

OP posts:
ButterYellowHair · 19/04/2026 21:05

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 21:03

Some people have no principles

We have principles, they just differ from yours. Principles just means a fundamental foundation of belief… it doesn’t mean that foundation must align with yours.

ButterYellowHair · 19/04/2026 21:04

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:39

Im thinking about taking my pram empty one day, taking the lot and donating them to charity. Would this be wrong? I feel like im taking away from the locals who take them, but its just getting on my nerves having to dodge them everytime, as well as the hazard to wheelchair users etc.

This is fine, clearly he wants them gone so you’re welcome to take them

OhBumBags · 19/04/2026 21:04

ButterYellowHair · 19/04/2026 21:02

Tbh I think he’s right. How dramatic can it be that your pram can suddenly lurch into the road from a toy? Are you absolutely tiny so you can’t control the pram, or sight impaired?

Also the possibility of wheelchairs 'tipping' due to toys on a pavement 😳

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 21:03

ButterYellowHair · 19/04/2026 21:02

Tbh I think he’s right. How dramatic can it be that your pram can suddenly lurch into the road from a toy? Are you absolutely tiny so you can’t control the pram, or sight impaired?

Some people have no principles

OP posts:
worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 21:03

OhBumBags · 19/04/2026 20:53

Yeah but unless he's clearing out Toys R Us, how long do you think this is going to last?

I'm sensing that maybe he buys his kids loads of toys frequently.

OP posts:
ButterYellowHair · 19/04/2026 21:02

Tbh I think he’s right. How dramatic can it be that your pram can suddenly lurch into the road from a toy? Are you absolutely tiny so you can’t control the pram, or sight impaired?

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 21:02

GrandHighPoohbah · 19/04/2026 20:55

I am a bit torn on this one. I live on a road where this is common. I often put things out for people to take, but only ever fully on my driveway, never on the public pavement, and they are always gone the same day (high footfall area). He really shouldn't be obstructing the pavement. I think if he's doing it often and the stuff isn't going that day because it's a quiet road, then speak to him again and then report. Do you have Fix My Street in your area? You can do it anonymously via that.

I agree, it's perfectly fine if it's on your own driveway/garden. If its all over the public pavement then it's just not ok. Maybe for a day or so but this has been going on for a while. I've never heard of it but will check now, thank you.

OP posts:
OhWise1 · 19/04/2026 20:58

You look over your shoulder to make sure no cars are coming and then step into the road to pass tge boxes tgen continue along the pavement.

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:56

OhBumBags · 19/04/2026 20:43

You're making a massive mountain out of a very short-term problem.

Surely you have other things to worry about than the relatively tiny amount of time these toys are outside?

Of course I have other things to worry about, I'm not worried about the toys. Im bothered by his audacity to say that he's not going to move it all onto his private property, he's going to leave it on a public path and I just have to walk in the road with my 2yo daughter. This has been going on for months

OP posts:
GrandHighPoohbah · 19/04/2026 20:55

I am a bit torn on this one. I live on a road where this is common. I often put things out for people to take, but only ever fully on my driveway, never on the public pavement, and they are always gone the same day (high footfall area). He really shouldn't be obstructing the pavement. I think if he's doing it often and the stuff isn't going that day because it's a quiet road, then speak to him again and then report. Do you have Fix My Street in your area? You can do it anonymously via that.

OhBumBags · 19/04/2026 20:53

Whenthemorningcomes · 19/04/2026 20:46

She says “It's about 3-4 boxes worth every other week” so not a tiny amount of time.

Yeah but unless he's clearing out Toys R Us, how long do you think this is going to last?

Livpool · 19/04/2026 20:53

This must be a short term problem - he can’t have THAT many toys. I get it is annoying but you are giving this way too much headspace

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:53

measuringtaep · 19/04/2026 20:40

I wouldn’t be arsed with principal tbh, I jugs do what makes my day easier. I can’t imagine giving this any headspace at all. Why are you so bothered?

I'm bothered about principle with everything, things just have meaning to me. If I think something is wrong, I have to say something. How does baiting strangers online make your day easier?

OP posts:
Whenthemorningcomes · 19/04/2026 20:46

OhBumBags · 19/04/2026 20:43

You're making a massive mountain out of a very short-term problem.

Surely you have other things to worry about than the relatively tiny amount of time these toys are outside?

She says “It's about 3-4 boxes worth every other week” so not a tiny amount of time.

Rainydays26 · 19/04/2026 20:46

Can't they go at the end of his path?

Whenthemorningcomes · 19/04/2026 20:45

If it’s a one off I wouldn’t bother, but if it’s a recurrent problem I absolutely would report them. I have (different) family members who are infirm and using a walker, and blind, and this kind of hazard is an absolute PITA.

OhBumBags · 19/04/2026 20:43

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:39

Im thinking about taking my pram empty one day, taking the lot and donating them to charity. Would this be wrong? I feel like im taking away from the locals who take them, but its just getting on my nerves having to dodge them everytime, as well as the hazard to wheelchair users etc.

You're making a massive mountain out of a very short-term problem.

Surely you have other things to worry about than the relatively tiny amount of time these toys are outside?

measuringtaep · 19/04/2026 20:40

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:36

Its more the principle im having to walk in the road with my DD because he cant be arsed to take his endless supply of toys to a charity shop, or at least put them in his garden

I wouldn’t be arsed with principal tbh, I jugs do what makes my day easier. I can’t imagine giving this any headspace at all. Why are you so bothered?

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:39

rwalker · 19/04/2026 20:37

I would just be extra vigilant when you go past as you are obviously aware they are there and leave them for the people it helps and the people who enjoy them

look at it as doing your small bit to
avoid these going to landfill

Im thinking about taking my pram empty one day, taking the lot and donating them to charity. Would this be wrong? I feel like im taking away from the locals who take them, but its just getting on my nerves having to dodge them everytime, as well as the hazard to wheelchair users etc.

OP posts:
worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:37

Arlanymor · 19/04/2026 20:36

They wouldn't tip, it would just block them. Wheelchair users are very vigilant as to what is in their path. If you thought it at the time why didn't you mention it to the chap?

I thought about it after I had walked away, as well as many other things that I wish I had said. But honestly, I dont think he really would have cared

OP posts:
rwalker · 19/04/2026 20:37

I would just be extra vigilant when you go past as you are obviously aware they are there and leave them for the people it helps and the people who enjoy them

look at it as doing your small bit to
avoid these going to landfill

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:36

measuringtaep · 19/04/2026 20:34

Just walk past on the road. Job done. It’s not a busy street surely what with it being a dead end

Its more the principle im having to walk in the road with my DD because he cant be arsed to take his endless supply of toys to a charity shop, or at least put them in his garden

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 19/04/2026 20:36

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:35

Forgot to mention this in my OP, I too thought at the time what if that happened to a wheelchair user and they tipped and were left helpless. Some will say dramatic but its a scenario that could happen.

They wouldn't tip, it would just block them. Wheelchair users are very vigilant as to what is in their path. If you thought it at the time why didn't you mention it to the chap?

worldshottestmom · 19/04/2026 20:35

Laserwho · 19/04/2026 20:33

It's a hazard. How is someone using a wheelchair supposed to get past, they won't be able to just move them.

Forgot to mention this in my OP, I too thought at the time what if that happened to a wheelchair user and they tipped and were left helpless. Some will say dramatic but its a scenario that could happen.

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 19/04/2026 20:35

I'd be more worried about a wheelchair user who can't move them out of their way and move them back, whereas you could.