College duo’s attempt to break MARTA world record about more than bragging rights

College sophomores Andrew Zhang and Ayush Maini hopped on the Red line from the MARTA North Springs station just after 9 a.m. Aug. 14 to attempt to beat a speed record set seven months earlier.

They wanted a Guinness World Records title, but they were also motivated to raise awareness for public transit.

Maini and Zhang sought to take all four MARTA lines to all 38 rail stations in under 3 hours, 21 minutes and 37 seconds to beat a world record for fastest time to visit all stations set by a Chicago trio in early January. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s transportation reporter, Sara Gregory, did a wonderful write-up of this feat, which drew aplomb and attention from MARTA itself.