Elevator system

An elevator system comprising:

• a hoistway having a first segment and a second segment neighboring an upper portion of the first segment;
• a plurality of first car carrying bases located within the hoistway, each first car carrying base having a first car support member and moving up and down the first segment;
• a plurality of second car carrying bases located within the hoistway, each second car carrying base having a second car support member and moving up and down the second segment;
• and
• a car moving up and down the hoistway while being selectively supported by said plurality of first or second car carrying bases, wherein said plurality of first and second car carrying bases do not overlap each other when projected onto a horizontal plane, said plurality of first or second car support members support said car at positions symmetrical with respect to a center of gravity of said car, and each of said car support members shuttles between a support position and a nonsupport position, the support position of said each of said car support members being a position at which said each of said car support members supports said car by projecting into a moving path of said car, the nonsupport position being a position at which said each of said car support members is retracted from and is outside the moving path of said car.