Don’t rock the boat. That was the slogan plastered on buttons and bumper stickers in the 1990s when Islanders went to Beacon Hill to fight for control of the Steamship Authority, the boat line that is their lifeline. At the time powerful New Bedford politicians believed the Authority should play a leading role in the economic vitalization of their city. They wanted direct ferry service between the Whaling City and the Vineyard, and had filed legislation to break apart the SSA governing board, potentially wresting control from the two Islands it was chartered to serve. Islanders balked at the prospect of expanding ferry service in light of market studies that said such an expansion would likely be a financial failure, and for their trouble were derided in the mainland press as elitist and out of touch. The late Edmond G. Coogan, an Oak Bluffs selectman, made a speech that has since been quoted many times, calling the ferry “Our road home. Our only road home.”

That was a lonely time but Islanders won the battle and today the Vineyard and Nantucket representatives still have weighted votes to make sure the Islands have the main say in how the ferry service operates.

These days, public unhappiness of any kind is less likely to be expressed on buttons and bumper stickers and more likely to come out on Facebook, in tweets or through online petitions, such as the one posted on moveon.org protesting the fare hikes that went into effect Jan. 1. That petition attracted nearly 3,000 signatures in less than three weeks and got the attention of governors and senior managers, who addressed it at a meeting early this week.

Petitioners argued that with the cost of fuel at historic low levels, there is no need to raise fares. But general manager Wayne Lamson defended the increases as insurance against volatility in oil prices and other expenses, and governors opted to leave the fare hikes in place. Concerns about rising boat line costs are understandable because the ferry is our only road home. To be sure, one can fly to the Island given fair weather and a full wallet, but for most there is no alternate route.

But the SSA is not a faceless bureaucracy run from afar. In fact it holds the distinction of being the only ferry company in the country that operates without state or federal subsidy. If the result is that riders are forced to pick up the full tab for operations, at least they are not subject to the agendas of politicians in Boston or Washington. In theory, at least, they have a much greater opportunity to have their voices heard. It is not enough, however, simply to sign a petition.

Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and those who attend get a free ride to and from. Despite that, few meetings attract more than a dozen or two spectators.

On the whole, the Steamship Authority does an admirable job of balancing costs against reliable, comfortable service, but Islanders owe it to themselves to understand exactly how money is being spent, and when appropriate, challenge assumptions. For example, statistics released this week show that traffic on ferries has been relatively flat for the past five years. In light of that information, is the planned $62 million upgrade for the Woods Hole terminal really needed?

For its part, the SSA ought to rethink the way it engages with the people who bear the cost of its service. The recent social media flare-up over the fare increase suggests that the boat line may be losing touch with its constituency. While it makes regular upgrades and improvements to its website, it has no Facebook page and no Twitter account. These are no longer radical concepts; only a change in thinking is required.

Tweet us, SSA governors, and tell us your thoughts.