Braking device for a car of an elevator system, wherein the braking device comprises a first brake pad and a second brake pad, which are disposed opposite to each other and accommodate a guide rail therebetween and develop a braking action by frictional engagement when they engage the guide rail, wherein the first brake pad is formed wedge-shaped and tapers in a wedge direction, wherein the front side of the first brake pad facing the guide rail is aligned parallel to the guide rail and the opposite rear side of the first brake pad is inclined in accordance with the wedge shape, and wherein the brake device further comprises a brake pad receptacle which comprises an abutment surface with an inclination corresponding to the first brake pad, against which the rear side of the first brake pad slidably abuts, characterized in that the braking device is adapted for braking a sideways travel by the braking device comprising a locking device having a first setting for vertical travel and a second setting for travel between elevator shafts, wherein in the first setting the braking action is dependent on the direction of travel and in the second setting the braking action is independent of the direction of travel, wherein the locking device is adapted to enable a sliding movement of the first brake pad opposite to the wedge direction in the first setting and with the braking device in the open state, and to block the sliding movement of the first brake pad opposite to the wedge direction for sideways travel in the second setting and with the brake device in the open state, wherein the brake pad receptacle comprises a stop surface for the first brake pad at its end disposed in the wedge direction, so that a sliding movement of the first brake pad along the abutment surface of the brake pad receptacle in the wedge direction is restricted by the stop surface, and wherein the first brake pad is spaced apart from the stop surface in a first working position in which the locking device assumes the first setting, and wherein the locking device is adapted to lock the first brake pad in the second setting at a second working position in which the first brake pad abuts the stop surface. wherein the first brake pad is formed wedge-shaped and tapers in a wedge direction, wherein the front side of the first brake pad facing the guide rail is aligned parallel to the guide rail and the opposite rear side of the first brake pad is inclined in accordance with the wedge shape, and wherein the brake device further comprises a brake pad receptacle which comprises an abutment surface with an inclination corresponding to the first brake pad, against which the rear side of the first brake pad slidably abuts, characterized in that the braking device is adapted for braking a sideways travel by the braking device comprising a locking device having a first setting for vertical travel and a second setting for travel between elevator shafts, wherein in the first setting the braking action is dependent on the direction of travel and in the second setting the braking action is independent of the direction of travel, wherein the locking device is adapted to enable a sliding movement of the first brake pad opposite to the wedge direction in the first setting and with the braking device in the open state, and to block the sliding movement of the first brake pad opposite to the wedge direction for sideways travel in the second setting and with the brake device in the open state, wherein the brake pad receptacle comprises a stop surface for the first brake pad at its end disposed in the wedge direction, so that a sliding movement of the first brake pad along the abutment surface of the brake pad receptacle in the wedge direction is restricted by the stop surface, and wherein the first brake pad is spaced apart from the stop surface in a first working position in which the locking device assumes the first setting, and wherein the locking device is adapted to lock the first brake pad in the second setting at a second working position in which the first brake pad abuts the stop surface.