Originally Posted by E.S.

I'm surprised only a couple people mentioned toe straps so far. I use them on my commute/recreation bike (although I only ride about 1 out of 13 miles in an urban environment on my commute) and they are great. I don't have the dough to spend on clipless right now but I'm not sure I would even want them. Toe straps give you the best of both worlds: if you have to be stopping frequently, you can keep them loose, and you're already wearing your normal shoes. And, they are extremely affordable. They are easy enough to slip out of even after tightening when you need to. On long stretches, the foot is fastened to the pedal and I find that my stroke is more consistent and confident as a result.