With the new elk added to VS, I was inspired with some further additions to the mount/transport system: carts for land-based movement.
New vehicle/item: horse/elk pulled cart:
This could function like the boat (adding storage vessel after building), allowing players to transport a large amount of items (or players) across land.
Possible upgrade: cloth cover, to give a small comfort-boost for travellers inside the cart compared to being out in the open
New vehicle/item: human-pulled cart (rickshaw):
A smaller cart that the player can pull around, allowing them to transfer a larger amount of items with them (this would use up more energy/food, or slow the player down somewhat).
Movement change:
By limiting the carts to be able to go up only 1 block at a time (or disable jumping), this could also compel users to create roads in-between settlements and points of interest.