Transport for London (TfL) has submitted its application to the High Court for a binding declaration on 'taximeters.' The ruling has wide ranging implications. In the name of democracy we call on the Mayor to insist that the case be made open to the public. Uber Technologies Inc. is an American international transportation network company headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company is estimated to be worth $51 billion. The legality of Uber's operation has been challenged by various governments and organisations on many grounds. In London, relevant bodies claim that neither Uber, or its drivers, meet the licensing criteria needed to offer a public hire service. A substantial amount of evidence questioning Uber's safety and efficacy is a legitimate cause for public concern. Transport for London (TfL- the publicly funded subsidiary of The Mayor and City Hall) is responsible for regulating and licensing taxis and private hire trades in the Capital. TfL are seeking a High Court ruling on whether smartphones, which uses GPS technology to calculate the cost of fares, based on the distance travelled and / or time elapsed, comply with the current law on 'taximeters'. A taximeter is presently defined as; ‘a device for calculating the fare to be charged in respect of any journey by reference to the distance travelled or time elapsed since the start of the journey (or a combination of both).’ Private Hire Act 1998. 11(3). The device in a taxi is strictly regulated by TfL and is authorised by them for use only in licensed taxis. Conversely, the use of a smartphone ‘taximeter’ is not certified for use and tariffs are open to alteration. Although fares are calculated using the same methodology, TfL is of the opinion that a smartphone does not constitute a 'taximeter’ and is willing to spend millions of pounds of public money on legal costs to defend Uber’s working model. If TfL is successful, it will mean that the private hire industry will no longer need to agree fares in advance, as a smartphone 'taximeter' has been deemed legal by the High Court. It is our view that TfL have not acted with complete transparency regarding the concessions afforded Uber by granting them a private hire operators license. In less that three years, TfL issued over 40,000 private hire licenses, thus facilitating the infiltration of drivers- working from the Uber platform- into the instant hire market. TfL recently stated that proceedings in the High Court will be conducted in private. Given Uber's financial strength as a political lobbyist, we are calling on the Mayor to insist that court proceedings are made open to the public. It is only right and fair that a case of such magnitude and of great public interest, is conducted openly and honestly. We conclude, that an unambiguous, publicly witnessed High Court declaration will bring clarity on this issue for all parties. In the mean time, TfL have made an interim ruling that Uber can continue to operate. Justice must be seen to be done. Sean Day