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The Prius employs "engine braking" (actually, electric motor braking) if you simply take your foot off the gas pedal in doing a "pulse and glide", so the proper technique is to apply very slight pressure to the pedal. The slight pressure prevents the ICE from coming back on (it shuts off when you start coasting). You can use the display to show when you are using electric rather than gas power and you'll soon get the hang of it.
You can drive quite a distance on "electric only" at about 38 MPH using this technique. Above that speed, the ICE seems to kick in unless you are decelerating. Getting up to 38 MPH usually requires the ICE (I've been able to accelerate only to about 18 MPH on electric only). There is a "pulse and glide" technique for that kind of city driving ... you slowly start out, then when the ICE kicks in you apply more gas to get to about 40 MPH, then back off the gas with just slight pressure on the gas pedal and enjoy the gas-free ride.
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