Originally Posted by
yankeefan
The only constraints I see here are the constraints you impose on yourself by telling yourself that rotating your ankle is a complex motion. Whenever I ride the local bike share I find myself twisting my heels as I come to a stop even though I'm using platforms; the motion is that ingrained into me that it becomes reflexive. A lot of people have to think before they unclip - even very experienced riders who are used to anticipating their stops in advance would struggle to unclip in a moment's notice. I think riding in NYC where I encounter all manner of craziness has forced me to learn how to unclip without thinking, because its impossible to anticipate the crap I experience during my daily commute. Platforms are clearly advantageous for you for winter riding so continue using them.
1. People who ride clipless and are afraid of falling over should, IMO, learn how to track stand/sit. Balancing a bike for a few minutes is at best an intermediate-level skill. I'm personally far more afraid of tripping while walking than I am of falling over due to a sudden stop.
2. Unclipping should be practiced until it becomes motor memory. Even a modest amount of practice should enable someone to unclip about as quickly as it takes them to lift their foot off a platform pedal.