Geoff Palmer is the founder of bikeparking.com, a locally owned business that produces a wide variety of bike parking racks that are now being installed in cities around the world. Geoff has been building his business at American Steel Studios for several years now, and has grown his inventory to include nearly twenty unique designs.
AM: What do you do?
GP: I make bike racks primarily. To a lesser extent I also make “metal site furnishings” such as steel benches, planter boxes and trash cans.
GP: I make bike racks primarily. To a lesser extent I also make “metal site furnishings” such as steel benches, planter boxes and trash cans.
AM: Geoff’s creations are based upon evolved design and engineering, which make cities more bike friendly as his bike racks are more secure than older designs. His process includes in-depth assessment of the needs of a bike rack – as well as what works and what doesn’t. See the what to avoid section of his website for some humorous notations on older commonly used designs.
AM: Why do you do what you do?
GP: It just seems right. It melds with how I was raised more than anything. As the son of a boat-builder, there was a real emphasis on “making” useful items. I bounced around in the computer/office world after college but nothing was fulfilling. I started this business while moonlighting in the early 90s and it eventually became a sustaining enterprise.
AM: Geoff is being humble. In reality, due to his success, Geoff often has his hands full keeping up with orders and meeting the demand for his designs.
GP: It just seems right. It melds with how I was raised more than anything. As the son of a boat-builder, there was a real emphasis on “making” useful items. I bounced around in the computer/office world after college but nothing was fulfilling. I started this business while moonlighting in the early 90s and it eventually became a sustaining enterprise.
AM: Geoff is being humble. In reality, due to his success, Geoff often has his hands full keeping up with orders and meeting the demand for his designs.
AM: What drew you to American Steel?
GP: Way back when Pacific Pipe (next door) was still in business, they supplied me the raw pipe bends for the racks. They closed down but a lot of the machinery found its way to Bay 1 of American Steel Studios.
GP: Way back when Pacific Pipe (next door) was still in business, they supplied me the raw pipe bends for the racks. They closed down but a lot of the machinery found its way to Bay 1 of American Steel Studios.
AM: Geoff needs some very specific tools and utilities to produce his bike racks. His primary tools are a massive bender which uses a equally enormous air compressor, both of which are run on a big pipe of 480 three-phase power – all resources which are becoming increasingly difficult to find these days.
AM: How has working in proximity to so many artists been helpful to you and your work?
GP: More than anything it makes for a pleasant environment having the art in the midst.
GP: More than anything it makes for a pleasant environment having the art in the midst.
AM: Why did you choose to work in Oakland?
GP: In addition to being close to San Francisco, where I live, quite simply Oakland has the infrastructure I need to produce my line of bike racks.
GP: In addition to being close to San Francisco, where I live, quite simply Oakland has the infrastructure I need to produce my line of bike racks.
AM: Has proximity to the Port of Oakland and major freeways been helpful for your business?
GP: The location is a plus. Close to freeways and central to where the bike racks need to go – the galvanizer, the powder-coater, and to the various final customer destinations for the racks – Berkeley, San Jose, Marin, basically the whole Bay Area. For shipments going beyond the Bay Area, delivery trucks have easy access to all the freeways.
GP: The location is a plus. Close to freeways and central to where the bike racks need to go – the galvanizer, the powder-coater, and to the various final customer destinations for the racks – Berkeley, San Jose, Marin, basically the whole Bay Area. For shipments going beyond the Bay Area, delivery trucks have easy access to all the freeways.
AM: Do you shop locally?
GP: I try as much as possible to. There are definitely a number of suppliers and vendors in the East Bay Area I source.
GP: I try as much as possible to. There are definitely a number of suppliers and vendors in the East Bay Area I source.
AM: How do you feel about the growth and changes at American Steel?
GP: My feeling is that the more people you have in the space engaged in positive activity, it brings that positive energy to the whole neighborhood. The American Steel building stood nearly vacant for a number of years, now it is filled with creative people doing all manner of things, and at just about any time of day.
AM: What is your next big adventure?
GP: With young children, adventures tend to be inward and small. I’m definitely not off to the Amazon or anything like that.
GP: With young children, adventures tend to be inward and small. I’m definitely not off to the Amazon or anything like that.
AM: Don’t be so sure Geoff, I hear the Amazon has a marked lack of bike racks!