So I recently (5 hours ago) converted from a platform pedal to clips on my road bike.
(A fairly vintage bike, from 1987). I fell over on my sides a couple times but I think I'm getting the hang of it now...

I carry some stuff in a backpack nearly all the time that I bike (books, usually) so I can't fit a spare pair of shoes. And I'm definitely not going to class or walking around all day in plastic shoes. Also, $8 clips sort of beat $100 + clipless pedals.

I commute 5km daily for school.
Nearly everyday for 20km~30km for a cardio workout.

Should I stick with platform pedals, or will my daily exercise route justify keeping it on for 5km commutes? Does anyone ride on the no-clip side? Anyone have any tips (special way of lacing the straps) that imitate a clipless pedal?(loosens when I twist my foot) Or even just tips to take it off faster?

PS: My clips drag a bit if I lean at all riding on the no-clip side.

Get a beater bike for school. You could do 5k on absolutely anything. Then get clipless for the non-beater.

Even without the pedal question, get a beater bike for school. Even if your current bike wasn't expensive. If you like it, get a beater. Bike get stolen from school campuses all the time.

Best solution is to get a cheap set of 'campus' pedals, the ones that are platform on one side and spd clip-in on the other.

That way you can ride to school in normal shoes, but if you want to go on a 'real' ride you can use spd-compatible shoes and have the benefi of clip-ins.

Clips/ straps are pretty much obsolete.

PS I just checked, performance has these pedals on sale for 40 bucks. A cheap pair of spd compatible shoes is another 60 bucks so this is a 100 dollar solution.

I'll second what datlas said.

well here in Vancouver I see lots of folks with clips... and $8 does beat $100. I've gotten used to it and it's quite comfortable now. I will get SPD pedals once I'm out of school and have a job S:

I do ride a beater bike to school. Put in a fair bit of work to it, but I deliberately keep it in fairly bad cosmetic condition (drive terrain is spot clean, as are all moving components) to deter any thieves.

Thanks for the other perspectives, though.

Using clips/straps on a beater bike is absolutely fine. If your bike gets stolen, you're out a nice set of pedals too if you put clipless on there.