The invention relates to an elevator having a hoistway, an elevator car movable in the hoistway and provided with a car brake, and a first coupling means movably mounted on the car, and a second coupling means mounted separate from the car at proximity of an end of the hoistway, the first and second coupling means being counterparts for each other and provided for being coupled in force-transmitting manner to each other, the car brake being triggerable by movement of the first coupling means. One of the first and second coupling means has coupling points at different vertical levels, and in the other of said first and second coupling means can couple to said one of the first and second coupling means at each of said coupling points. The invention also relates to a method for forming a safety space in the elevator.