An illustrative example elevator system includes a hoistway that establishes a vertical pathway. The hoistway has an interior border established by a plurality of stationary boundaries that each have a height aligned with a vertical length of the hoistway. Each of the stationary boundaries has a width generally perpendicular to the height. An elevator car is within the hoistway. At least one vertically extending load bearing assembly includes a plurality of elongated load bearing members extending along a vertical path and facilitating movement or support of the elevator car. At least one hoistway liner assembly is situated in the hoistway. The hoistway liner assembly includes a plurality of bumpers that each have an axis that is generally perpendicular to the vertical length of the hoistway. The axes of at least two of the bumpers are non-parallel. The bumpers collectively establish a protected area sufficient for preventing contact between the load bearing assembly and the interior border of the hoistway if there is lateral movement of any of the load bearing members relative to the vertical path in at least two generally perpendicular directions.