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

[worldshottestmom]

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.

Aibu to report this as fly-tipping?

Don't be so petty.

Unless they're ex toy shop owners, they're not going to have an endless amount of toys to give away so they won't be there forever.

Try as I might, I really cannot imagine some-one's pram nearly tipping because of a toy on the pavement.

I suggest you get it looked at.

Yeah I do feel reporting it is extreme, but im not sure what else to do. If you could see the path you would understand what im saying. Other people/kids who walk past play with the toys and then just dump them on the pavement so theyre just scattered everywhere at times. I think youre being petty by blaming my pram tbh lmao

Erm, I'm sure he's heard of charity shops! There are also places like baby banks and homeless charities that would come to collect from him. He is certainly lazy CF for dumping his stuff on the street.

Personally I would report him for fly tipping, because that is what he's doing.

Well I've managed to get to 57 years of age without ever seeing a pram so much as tip slightly due to a toy on a pavement, let alone nearly tip into a road.

Can you walk on the opposite side?

I thought after leaving to say to him why doesnt he just take it to a charity shop. No doubt he wouldnt of been able to do that either. I mean if people can collect them then there really is no excuse. I do feel terrible because I know hes trying to do a nice thing, but his attitude towards me was so dismissive and careless i just feel a bit pissed off now tbh

If they are not too heavy, move them and place them in the garden.

As stated in OP there is no path on the other side of the road, so id have to walk in the road with my DD in the pram to get around it all. I could just spend my time picking up the loose ones everytime I go past but id really rather not tbh. I feel like that would be his responsibility. I've seen prams tip many times, my own used to tip frequently on a raised a pavement stone until it was finally fixed.

You know I might just do this

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

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

I'd just watch your wheels as you go by then.

Because to be honest, by the time the council get round to paying a visit, the toys will be gone anyway.

This is an extremely short-term problem by the sound of it.

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.

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?

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 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

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

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.

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?

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?

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.

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

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

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?

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