I just bought a set of Shimano M324 pedals for my Giant CS800 commuter/ all around transportation bike. How many of you use clipless for commuting? Do you find any real advantage using them around town? My commute is not long, and there's lots of traffic lights. I'm wondering if I'll end up just using clipless for longer weekend rides.

If there are no obstacles to tackle along your commute then I don't think it would make much of a positive difference. I use clipless because the bigger hills are so easy to climb with my feet firmly on the pedals. Also, if you don't get casual looking shoes with clipless adapters you'll have to carry another pair of shoes to change into. I ride to school so I just left a pair of flip flops in my gym locker.
If you have only one bike, I say install the clipless pedals and use them in your commute so you don't have to keep switching to platforms. At least commuting in clipless will get you used to the pedals very quickly

I do. My ride in is only 5 miles with 10 stops and I still prefer clipless.

I use clipless right now in the good weather. In the winter, I plan to go back to platforms.

No.

I do unless there's snow/ice on the ground. Then I'm on a MTB with meat tenderizer platforms.

My commute is all of 3 miles and I almost always go clipless. I have Shimano A 530 platform/clipless pedals and still ride them as clipless....I don't like the feeling of not being locked in to the pedal, and like being able to stand up on the pedals and not worry about my feet sliding off.

I use clipless SPD on both my bikes year round. my commute is 23 miles each way

I used to use SPDs, but never really liked them. Now I used the BMX style studded platform pedals. Almost as much grip from the little threaded steel studs and easier to get on and off of.

clipless for my 12 mile commute. Some stops, but getting in and out of spd's becomes second nature, I don't even think of it anymore. I use mtn bike shoes, easier to walk in. I keep a regular shoes at work. I may go back to platforms when the cold exceeds my shoe and bootie warmth abilities and have to switch to hiking boots.

No clipless just cages here, I ride to work in my leather shoes so I don't have to carry soo much junk to work back and forth. it's only a 6km trip each way so I don't even think about it.

Switched to clipless a month or two ago... bike (and pedals) stolen last week. had to ride back up bike w/ toe cages. Bought new clipless pedals off CL yesterday, because I can't go back!

Clipless much easier than cages, and I don't like having my feet free anymore. No problems so far. Commute anywhere from 1.3 miles to 22 miles each way.

Almost always.

Always.

Clipless except for winter.

They're nice for climbing hills or for a quick sprint. I've also gotten used to being firmly attached to the pedals so I prefer clipless.

I'd be fine with platforms though if all I used my bike for was commuting/utility rides.

All my bikes have A-520 pedals. My spare parts box has a pair of M-520s and a pair of M-540s. Not a platform pedal to be be found anywhere here at Chez TSL.

I just switched back to clipless for my commutes mainly cause im tired of getting my "normal" shoes all nasty from rain and weather and what not

I commute mainly fixed/single speeds. Clipless allows me the maximum acceleration with the least effort. This is important for me since my commute is always with traffic and there are no bike lanes. Nothing like accelerating away from a stoplight like a tugboat to get a nice horn blast from the SUV behind you.

yes, of course, i always ride clipless; all 3 of my bikes are clipless equipped. in fact, as i recently mentioned in another thread, being locked in has become so second nature that it's actually become harder for me to ride a straight platform pedal because my feet start slipping and sliding all over the place; i'm no longer used to not being locked into the pedal. and once you get used to clipping in and out of clipless pedals for all of the starts and stops along a 30 mile roundtrip commute everyday, it really does become as easy and automatic as taking your foot off, or putting it on, a regular old platform pedal.

when i first started riding clipless i had dual-sided pedals, one side with the cleat acceptor and one side regular platform, because i was nervous about riding locked in with heavy traffic, but after several months of getting accustomed to riding locked in, i stopped using the platform side of the pedal altogether.

as for the shoe issue, i use mountain bike SPD shoes with recessed cleats so that i can still walk around like a normal bi-ped when i'm off the bike. i also leave a pair of dressier shoes at the office in case i've got meetings with clients and need to be a bit more professional looking.

Absolutely. You're more connected with the bike, can get moving faster if you choose/need to, and hills ( my commute is full of 'em ) aren't quite as difficult. I bought pedals that could be used with normal shoes, thinking along the lines you are, and once I tried the clipless system, I haven't wanted to ride in "normal" shoes again.

That's awesome! It means you get to work on your track-standing skills.

Yes. Or no. Depends on which bike I use and what shoes I use.

I switched to clipless specifically SPD M520s last year. Even though my route is a mixed paved and unpaved surfaces I find that it gives me better foot integration with the pedals.
I had clip cage type pedals on my hybridized mtb and I always find it annoying to put my foot back in. I got fed-up with them and purchased a pair of m505 w/ detachable platforms. This allows me to ride with regular shoes on days when i don't need SPDs.
Great thing is, my cleats SH51 works with both pedals. I use a mtb type SPD shoes. So no awkward clickety-clack when walking around.

I did for a while, but I switch to platforms in the winter. One year I kept the platforms on for a while, and when I switched back to the SPDs I realized that I didn't much care one way or the other, and with the SPDs if I wanted to jump on the bike and go down to the corner store for a gallon of milk I had to go into the back and change shoes first, then change back when I got back, so I just put the platforms+toe clips back on and left them there.

No, you don't. Just be careful if you want to stand and really hammer on the pedals.

Eggbeaters would worry me (they did when I tried using them with regular shoes, and Quattros worry me a little less), but otherwise, they've been fine.

Always wear clipless. I have a 25-35 mi RT commute, a lot on trails. I don't see any disadvantage in any kind of riding or ride length (excpet if yplan to do a lot of walking around at a destination).