Originally Posted by Paul W.
I plan to keep the platform pedals in the front for safety.
I'd suggest either toe straps or clipless pedals for front and back. There really isn't a safety problem. You just need to learn to get out of them before you come to a complete stop. As for a crash you're better off staying with the bike, so there is not a safety issue there. On the other hand if your foot flys off the pedal while you're turning a good cadence, and your stoker is still pushing, that is going to at least hurt and may be disruptive enough to cause a crash. On balance, I'd suggest that safety considertaions dictate both riders being securely connected to the pedals.