A traction member, which is elastically deformable transversely to the direction of its longitudinal extent and as a result can, where appropriate, be deflected around a deflection roller, the following components being provided: - a first traction element arrangement, comprising two or more first end sections of one or more elongate first traction elements, the first end sections being lined up substantially flush with each other in the direction of longitudinal extent, and a first abutment region being provided between each pair of first end sections facing each other, - a second traction element arrangement, comprising two or more second end sections of one or more elongate second traction elements, the second end sections being lined up substantially flush with each other in the direction of longitudinal extent, and a second abutment region being provided between each pair of second end sections facing each other, - the first traction element arrangement and the second traction element arrangement being connected to each other such that they run parallel to each other laterally, that is, transversely to the direction of longitudinal extent, - and the first abutment region(s) of the first traction element arrangement being arranged offset in the direction of longitudinal extent relative to the second abutment region(s) of the second traction element arrangement so that the abutment region(s) (7, 12) of one traction element arrangement (3, 8) are each overlapped by a traction element (4, 9) of the other traction element arrangement (3, 8) and are thus bypassed in terms of force, characterised in that - two or more traction element arrangements (3, 8) are lined up laterally next to each other along a normal to the direction of longitudinal extent and connected to each other and thereby together form a strip-shaped member, - the at least two traction element arrangements (3, 8) connected to each other have a flat, strip-shaped profile, - the two or more traction element arrangements (3, 8), each with a flat, strip-shaped profile, each have two short sides and two flat sides, - and two traction element arrangements (3, 8) are arranged with the flat, strip-shaped profile laterally, that is, transversely to the direction of longitudinal extent next to each other so that in each case two flat sides face each other and are connected to each other. - a first traction element arrangement, comprising two or more first end sections of one or more elongate first traction elements, the first end sections being lined up substantially flush with each other in the direction of longitudinal extent, and a first abutment region being provided between each pair of first end sections facing each other, - a second traction element arrangement, comprising two or more second end sections of one or more elongate second traction elements, the second end sections being lined up substantially flush with each other in the direction of longitudinal extent, and a second abutment region being provided between each pair of second end sections facing each other, - the first traction element arrangement and the second traction element arrangement being connected to each other such that they run parallel to each other laterally, that is, transversely to the direction of longitudinal extent, - and the first abutment region(s) of the first traction element arrangement being arranged offset in the direction of longitudinal extent relative to the second abutment region(s) of the second traction element arrangement so that the abutment region(s) (7, 12) of one traction element arrangement (3, 8) are each overlapped by a traction element (4, 9) of the other traction element arrangement (3, 8) and are thus bypassed in terms of force, characterised in that - two or more traction element arrangements (3, 8) are lined up laterally next to each other along a normal to the direction of longitudinal extent and connected to each other and thereby together form a strip-shaped member, - the at least two traction element arrangements (3, 8) connected to each other have a flat, strip-shaped profile, - the two or more traction element arrangements (3, 8), each with a flat, strip-shaped profile, each have two short sides and two flat sides, - and two traction element arrangements (3, 8) are arranged with the flat, strip-shaped profile laterally, that is, transversely to the direction of longitudinal extent next to each other so that in each case two flat sides face each other and are connected to each other.