Traffic enforcement officers spent part of Sunday on Wellington Crescent issuing warnings to drivers caught on the portion of the street marked for local traffic.

"I think that'll probably help and just a warning will keep people off the road so that's good. Good for everybody,” said cyclist Bruce Audit.

Historically, the city discouraged vehicle traffic on Sunday cycling routes but did not prohibit it.

Now, a bylaw makes it illegal to drive on the four designated routes on Sundays and holidays between Victoria Day and Thanksgiving.

Violators risk a $92 fine.

The routes include Wellington Crescent, Wolseley Avenue, Lyndale Drive and Scotia Street.

"When any law changes or it's amended in some way, it's about realizing what those new changes are and adjusting our driving habits,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen of the Winnipeg Police Service.

In years past, the closures included barriers placed at either end of the closed streets indicating they were closed except for local traffic.

This year, the barriers have come down and now motorists will have to rely on permanent signage the city installed at access points to the routes.

"It's just that I've been here for years and it's always the same sign so I wasn't looking for another one,” said driver Mira Spivak as an officer warned her about the new rules.

Not all are in favour of the new signage, fearing it’s not going to be clear to drivers.

"Go back to what they had before with a barrier that says local traffic only,” said cyclist Simon Lemay.

Police say the barriers gave pedestrians a false sense of security because they thought the roads were completely closed to traffic.

Cars can still use the routes for one block to get to their final destinations and pedestrians must share the roadway.

"I went for a walk with my wife, and she's on purpose in the middle of the street, and the car just goes like an inch from her and stops and she wouldn't move,” said area resident Ira Marcus, describing a confrontation between a motorist and a pedestrian.

On Wolseley Avenue there was no visible police enforcement on Sunday and CTV News cameras witnessed numerous drivers breaking the bylaw.

"Oh yeah, that's right, I forgot that started. I knew that,” said one driver when told about the bylaw as she pulled up to a stop sign.

Police called Sunday’s enforcement featuring mostly warnings a soft launch and said drivers who make that mistake in the future could face the $92 fine.

More information can be found here and on the city's website.