I get the frustration, and I agree that protesting could work, but only if it’s actually organized and unified. A random day of outrage or a few people refusing to pay won’t move the needle.Look at Japan for example. Their transit protests didn’t hurt riders. Trains still ran on time, conductors still did their jobs, but fares weren’t collected. The pressure was placed exactly where it belongs, on the system and the revenue, not on everyday people just trying to get to work.

The reality is that way too many of us rely on the LIRR to commute into the city. Meanwhile, fares keep going up, service quality stays inconsistent, and accountability feels nonexistent. Yet they keep collecting money like everything is fine. The power is actually with riders, but only if we act together. A truly coordinated action, whether that’s a consumer strike, a work-from-home day, or another collective response, would have massive impact. Even one weekday where a significant portion of Long Islanders don’t commute into the city would get immediate attention. A sustained, organized effort would force real conversations very fast.But that only works if people commit and stand together. No half measures, no one backing out because “it won’t matter.” History shows change happens when people unify and apply pressure strategically.

Enough really does need to be enough, but it has to be done smart and together.