Clipless helps a lot. You can use the antagonist of the quadriceps muscles. Once you learn how to do it properly, climbing will be much much easier. Also, it is much easier to spin faster which is what you should be doing. You can distribute the load at any time on both of your legs...
I use my SPD shoes to go to school 5 days a week and I couldn't use a bike without. It gives you so much more power and control. No clips and I feel naked. I never had trouble in traffic, you learn to go slowly, just enough to not fall. Yes you will fall... I thought it wouldn't happen to me. 3 times and it was after a while, was going too slow, trying not to put a foot on the ground. Unclipped the wrong foot and had a very embarrassing moment at a busy intersection.