Originally Posted by
spare_wheel
1. Balancing a bike for a few minutes is at best an intermediate-level skill. People who ride clipless and are afraid of falling over simply need to learn how to track stand/sit.
2. Unclipping quickly becomes motor memory. Even a small amount of practice should enable someone to unclip about as quickly as it takes them to lift their foot off the pedal.
+1
Most riders can unclip without any hassle if altered prior to coming to a stop (at least a 2 second warning). Its an entirely different skill when you're about to hit the deck and you need to put your foot down without thinking "okay, I need to unclip". It needs to instantaneous and reflexive. I've had occasions where I lost balance while track standing (sometimes I don't line up my bike properly or I'm in the wrong gear) and was able to unclip and put my foot down midway through my fall.