Sure, everybody complains about the price of everything, but nobody does anything about it. Or do they? Or can they?

Take the case of the recent MBTA fare hikes. Plenty of people complained about the raised rates, but with no effect. The one thing that was accomplished was increasing awareness of the many problems that the transit system is dealing with: mechanical failures, interruptions in service, and overall quality concerns.

This rising awareness is likely to become a factor as the system moves forward operationally in years to come, as increasingly more riders and public officials focus their attention on these issues.

And several public officials stepped up to question or oppose the fare increases. Mayor Curtatone lobbied heavily for a freeze in rate hikes until the perceived broken system could be improved, as did Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

The Somerville City Council passed a resolution ahead of the scheduled July 1 fare increase date opposing the action, citing issues of equity, access, affordability, oversight, and reliability of the transit service.

Still, the increase went into effect at the designated date, despite the hew and cry from those who were against it. Groups and movements like #UnFairHikes did their best to put a stop to it, but in the end it was business as usual, in favor of the rate increases.

Some are still putting up a fight, urging those who can manage it to utilize alternative means of transport, such as Uber, Lyft, bicycling, etc., as a means of protest.

As a David and Goliath type of situation, it looks as though Goliath prevailed. For the time being anyway. What can be done is to keep raising awareness of what could and should be done to improve what we’re getting for our money.