For a few years I went from clipless (my bkgrnd is analog road bikes) to a Pedaling Innovations Catalyst uber platform pedal on my ebikes. The extra long pedal provides complete arch support and are very forgiving of foot placement. They or something like them should be the default choice if you are riding platforms imho. The 'stomping' motion you use to power them gives an enormous benefit and you have to adapt your muscles and cadence to them, then try and switch back to realize how much they give you. It takes quite a time investment to do that so its not a shock they are somewhat popular, but haven't become ubiquitous.
The Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedal is massive and makes claims of more power, grip and stability. But can it back those up?
www.bikemag.com
I wear Five Ten Freeriders with them. Those platform shoes are easy to walk in and literally stick to the pedal pins.
More recently, coming from a lifetime of being clipped in, I decided to give cleats another shot and I have not regretted it. My biggest problem with cleats in the city was the repeated in-out necessary at intersections. It was a big hassle accelerating and trying to get back into the cleat at the same time while avoiding getting sideswiped. I solved that with Funn Ripper pedals, which have a raised, spring-loaded cleat that makes locking in your foot instant and 'a doddle' as one reviewer put it. Here again I don't know why all (Shimano style) pedal cleats don't do this. Its such a big improvement. The Rippers are cleated on both sides, with pins, but they sell a different pedal that is one-sided if you want to play the lottery when cleating back in.
I'm wearing Giro Rumble shoes with them. Easy to walk in with no cleat scraping and stiff enough sole to pedal hard in. I like the fact that cleats put my feet in exactly the right position every time, automatically. I only needed one ride to remind me to be mindful my feet are locked in as I'm approaching a red light. Dealing with that is second nature to a cyclist.
For anything I am going to potentially ride on trails, I'll stick to the platofrms. Same with leisure riding where I'm not going somewhere, although thats almost never a thing for me. For street riding its cleats all the way.
