Used-car sales surge in New York due to pandemic

More New Yorkers are buying second-hand cars to avoid having to use public transportation because of the pandemic, undermining efforts to reduce congestion in the city.

In August, the Manheim used vehicle value index reached an all-time high of 163.7 against 141.3 a year ago.

Rudy Blocker, a used-car salesman in Brooklyn, believes the surge in purchases was partly due to the $600 checks the government sent to the unemployed until the end of July.

However, sales of new cars have not increased soared.

Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit working to take cars off New York, noted in September that traffic is down only 9 percent compared to last year despite most New Yorkers working from home.

The group warned that this development may turn the city into becoming an exhaust-choked, gridlocked, and crash-laden ‘Carmageddon.’”

Mayor Bill de Blasio has yet to lay out plans to prevent congestion borne of the pandemic.

A congestion charge scheme for midtown Manhattan set for January has been postponed until at least the end of next year.