The Understory
  • Archive
  • Pricing
  • About
Subscribe

A weekly letter on cities and climate.

One clear essay every Thursday from former city engineer Ada Okafor. Free to read.

MBTRPA
41,800 readers

Issue #211 · 12 min

The street that learned to flood

In Rotterdam there is a basketball court that becomes a lake…

What you get

One essay a week. No noise.

The Thursday essay

1,500 words on one idea, with maps and numbers.

Free

Monthly deep dives

Reported investigations you won’t find elsewhere.

Paid

Field notes

Dispatches and interviews from 40+ cities.

Paid

The archive

Recent issues

  • № 211

    The street that learned to flood

    24 Sep
  • № 210

    What a bus lane really costs

    Paid17 Sep
  • № 209

    Why every tram line takes eleven years

    10 Sep
  • № 208

    A morning with the drainage crews

    Paid3 Sep

Pricing

Read free. Fund the reporting.

MonthlyAnnually2 months free

Free

$0forever
  • The Thursday essay
  • 100+ archive issues
Subscribe free
Most popular

Paid

$80/ year
  • Everything in Free
  • Monthly deep dives
  • Field notes & live Q&A
Start 7-day trial

Founding

$200/ year
  • Everything in Paid
  • Signed print annual
  • A call with Ada
Become a founder

What readers say

“The only newsletter I pay for, and the only one I read the day it arrives.”
MLMaya LindqvistTransport planner, Gothenburg
“I forward it to my city council every Thursday. Twice now, they’ve written back.”
PAPriscilla AduNeighbourhood association chair
“It changed how I walk around my own city.”
HOHelen OkwuTeacher, Leeds

About

Hi, I’m Ada.

Nine years as a drainage engineer taught me to love the parts of the city nobody photographs.

Entirely reader-funded. No ads, no sponsors.

— Ada

Questions

Is the free version actually useful?

Yes. The Thursday essay is free, forever. Paid readers fund it and get the deep dives on top.

Do you offer discounts?

Half price for students, and for anyone who replies to ask. No forms.

How do I cancel?

One click at the bottom of any email. You keep access until the period ends.

Thursdays, better.

Issue #212 lands Thursday morning.

Choose a plan
The Understory
  • Archive
  • Pricing
  • RSS
© 2026 Ada Okafor · Leeds