When the thousands of bikers swerve off I-540 and on to Dickson today, revving their engines and preparing for a three-day celebration of motorcycles, food and music, Fayetteville will split.

Supporters will hit Dickson and revel in the Bikes, Blues & BBQ festivities, and critics will lock themselves indoors, leaving only when necessary to avoid the traffic and noise.

Students, in particular, have a history of feeling conflicted about BBB. Do they support the event? Do they appreciate the fundraising, the hell-raising and that oh-so-good, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue? Or is the fact that Dickson – prime cruising territory for bikers – ends right atop the Hill, near several residence halls, just too much for busy, sleep-deprived students to bear?

With BBB, like with most other events of this magnitude, residents – and students – simply must learn to take the good with the bad.

We know that more than 400,000 people attended BBB last year. Good for local businesses, bad for traffic.

We know that upwards of 100,000 noisy motorcycles hit the streets of Fayetteville for BBB last year. Good for bike enthusiasts and sightseers, bad for sleepy students and nearby residents.

And we know that more than $500,000 has been donated to area charities since 2000 because of BBB, and event coordinators hope to raise $100,000 this year alone. The good’s evident; the bad, not so much.

The fact is, BBB has a purpose greater than to be just another bike show. It supports charities and organizations – like Youth Bridge, the Walton Arts Center, the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter, the American Red Cross, etc. – that are probably close to students’ hearts.

It’s the largest national motorcycle rally of its kind, and it’s set right here, in the backyard of the UA, bringing with it people from all 50 states.

Sure, it’s noisy, and yes, it’s crowded, but so are Razorback football games. So give BBB a chance. Support the local economy, and give back to area charities. We bet you’ll have some fun while you’re doing it.