News

Oct 04, 2023

Scooter team aims for world record as they pass through Hartford on cross

Two adventurers on scooters are passing through Hartford in a bid for a world

Two adventurers on scooters are passing through Hartford in a bid for a world record together: a 9,000 mile ride across America.

Michael Reid and Yonatan Belik's attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest journey on a 50cc scooter is taking them through each continental U.S. state. The scooters resemble motorcycles, but max out at a top speed around 30 miles per hour.

The duo pulled into Hartford around 10 p.m. Sunday night and began their day Monday with a tour of the Mark Twain House. They’ll be in town through Tuesday morning.

The potentially world record-breaking scooter ride began Saturday night outside of Philadelphia and will wrap up back there 85 days from now after passing through all 48 continental U.S. states. Hartford is one of their first stops on the journey and Connecticut is the fourth state they’ve crossed. Their route took them north from Philadelphia through New Jersey, and they’ll loop through New England before beginning the long ride west.

"We want to spread a message of positivity and a message of being able to achieve your dreams and your goals by actually doing this," Reid said.

Reid, 31 and from Philadelphia, met Belik years ago through their shared passion for outdoor adventure. Belik, 29, specializes in video production and travels the world sharing stories of his journeys.

Their pit stop in Hartford at the Mark Twain House was especially meaningful to Reid and Belik. The traveling duo both find inspiration in Twain's work, particularly the message that some of the most valuable learning can come from life experiences.

"There are so many more perspectives and beliefs that are outside (of the classroom) that are beautiful and can change your life," Reid said.

Reid and Belik are talking with locals along the road and recording mini documentaries telling the stories of the people they meet in each city. Beyond traveling further on the scooters than any human in recorded history, Belik said the ride is giving them a more in-touch perspective on the nation.

"These bikes are passports to physical and psychological borders in the United States," Belik said. "They take us through places, but they also welcome engagement with strangers and we get to know the different people because of them."

In addition to visiting the Mark Twain house, Belik stopped by a West Hartford barbershop for a haircut.

The duo named their world record attempt Project Create48, in reference to the 48 states they’ll stop in and the string of video diaries that will come on the way. They’re posting about their journey on a Facebook page hosted by the group.

"We recognize how our fast-paced lives cause us to focus on the destination rather than the journey, so we’re choosing to slow down," Reid said. "Investing the time to immerse ourselves in our surroundings and avoid any chance of getting a speeding ticket."

They move slowly along the road and spend each night sharing a tent in various campgrounds or RV parks, part of an effort to truly get to know each state they stop in. The journey's being funded by a collection of nonprofit groups such as Seeds for Peace and private businesses, including OffGrid Moto and the Philadelphia Cycle Center.

Right now they’re on a pace of about 150 miles per day. If they complete the ride, Project Create48 will be Reid and Belik's second Guinness World Record as a team. Last year in Maine, they set a world record for the "greatest distance on a kick/push scooter in 24 hours." Seeds for Peace sponsored that record attempt as well.

Sign up for email newsletters