An elevator system, comprising: a platform which is part of an elevator car including a cabin configured to accommodate a plurality of passengers; and a plurality of supports (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) configured to selectively engage a nearby structure, the plurality of supports (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) including at least a first support (32, 32A, 32B) and a second support (34, 34A, 34B), the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) alternating between engaging the nearby structure to support the platform while the other one of the supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) is disengaged from the nearby structure, the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) being configured to move relative to the platform while engaging the nearby structure to cause vertical movement of the platform; wherein: the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) extend or contract while engaging the nearby structure to cause the vertical movement of the platform; each of the supports (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) has a vertical stroke corresponding to a distance between a fully contracted position and a fully extended position of the support (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B), and both of the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) simultaneously engage the nearby structure while extending or contracting along at least a portion of the vertical stroke of the support (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) such that both of the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) simultaneously cause the vertical movement of the platform. a platform which is part of an elevator car including a cabin configured to accommodate a plurality of passengers; and a plurality of supports (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) configured to selectively engage a nearby structure, the plurality of supports (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) including at least a first support (32, 32A, 32B) and a second support (34, 34A, 34B), the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) alternating between engaging the nearby structure to support the platform while the other one of the supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) is disengaged from the nearby structure, the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) being configured to move relative to the platform while engaging the nearby structure to cause vertical movement of the platform; wherein: the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) extend or contract while engaging the nearby structure to cause the vertical movement of the platform; each of the supports (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) has a vertical stroke corresponding to a distance between a fully contracted position and a fully extended position of the support (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B), and both of the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) simultaneously engage the nearby structure while extending or contracting along at least a portion of the vertical stroke of the support (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) such that both of the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) simultaneously cause the vertical movement of the platform. the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) extend or contract while engaging the nearby structure to cause the vertical movement of the platform; each of the supports (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) has a vertical stroke corresponding to a distance between a fully contracted position and a fully extended position of the support (30, 32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B), and both of the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) simultaneously engage the nearby structure while extending or contracting along at least a portion of the vertical stroke of the support (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) such that both of the first and second supports (32, 32A, 32B, 34, 34A, 34B) simultaneously cause the vertical movement of the platform.