The cheap type fulfil a requirement to create bike lanes, without any of the "inconvenience" of actually having people use them. They're common in Britain, where the national government talks about cycling, tells local government to implement it, but doesn't require a minimum standard.

You can also go one better with the bike lanes, with a kerb between the road and the lane: http://portlandtribune.com/images/artimg/00003517543605.jpg (Copenhagen).

In fact, the street in your first picture (also Copenhagen) has been improved, with this arrangement on one side: https://www.google.dk/maps/@55.6733243,12.5605277,3a,75y,218... -- it looks like some parking has been removed to achieve this.