Aisle

Aisles with seating on both sides can be seen in airplanes, in buildings such as churches, cathedrals, synagogues, meeting halls, parliaments, courtrooms, theatres, and in long passenger vehicles.

Aisles also cross through shops, where they have shelving on either side; warehouses, flanked by storage pallets; and factories, where they separate different work areas.

[1] In Gothic architecture, the aisles' roofs are lower than that of the nave, allowing light to enter through clerestory windows.

In Romanesque architecture, however, the roofs are at roughly equal heights, with those of the aisle being only slightly lower than that of the nave.

Regardless of the type of merchandise the establishment sells, it is common to display a range of "impulse buy" items along the checkout aisle, such as cold beverages, magazines, candy and batteries.

To improve safety, often the edges of the aisles in such facilities are marked with a row of small lights.

National and local government regulations require a minimum width for aisles in various building types.

Regulatory agencies frequently inspect buildings, vehicles, etc., to enforce regulations requiring that aisles not be restricted.

Inspectors have imposed fines for blocking or restricting passage when boxes or folding chairs are stored in aisles, for example.

The Americans with Disabilities Act sets certain standards for building access and other design considerations in all new construction and major renovations in the U.S.[4] An architectural barrier is any feature that makes access or use of a building difficult, unreasonably dangerous or impossible.

Regulations applicable to public carriers transporting passengers often require aisles to be completely clear in vehicles, such as airlines, buses and trains.