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I think you'd see more bikes. A lot less upkeep than a horse, you can find them relatively easy, and they can sit in a garage for months or years and only need some minor maintenance to get going again.
Edit: I can't think of any books I've read recently that depicts primarily bike based transportation though. Probably because it doesn't look super cool lol
I think bikes would definitely be the go-to for utility and ease of repair... but there is definitely a missing cool factor missing for the hero.
I think wild horse populations would rebound quickly, depending on the nature of the apocalypse, making them easier to replace a few decades out.
I forget the title, but there is a zombie apocalypse book I read years ago where a man, his 1 year old son, and his neighbor escape their town on bicycles with attached wagons/child buggy. They do alright for the most part
And bikes are quieter than cars, too, especially handy around noise-sensitive zombies.
Absolutely! The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks dedicates a portion to transportation, and bikes are definitely the preferred means. Considering you can coast and conserve energy while still outpacing the zombies (assuming shambler's instead of sprinters), bikes are awesome.
Bigger pedal-powered vehicles might make sense, too. There's less sensitivity to extra weight from a primitive construction. Those mobile peddleable bars for tourists come to mind.
Even bicycles would be ruined quite fast. Bearings are quite intricate things, you cant really make one on your own very easily. Unless you have some excellent metal making capabilities and accurate lathes. They also need lubrication.
My dad does some bicycling and hes doing small maintenance ever 80-100km or so. Major maintenance once or twice a year. Involves lubrication, cleaning stuff, tightening things, changing parts..
The amount of oil you need to lubricate something is much more doable, though. If there's not a drop of petroleum, castor oil was the historical choice, and animal fat is probably also thick enough to work.
Bearings are a massive chicken and egg problem if you don't have one to start with, but in this scenario you definitely start with them. You're probably not going to make the really fancy ones, but a basic roller, ball or journal bearing seems doable. They did it way back in the day, right?
"Dies The Fire" SM Sterling.
One day the laws of physics change. Guns and electric power no longer work.
One of the first groups to gain power is a motorcycle gang that loots a bike store.
First book in the series is B plus, the rest get worse imho