I have found in my experience working with (many) kinds of animals that captive-bred snakes are some of the least likely to bite. I have scars from birds and rabbits and chinchillas, but the only time I was ever bitten by a snake was when some girl scouts wouldn't stop poking her in the face. And it was really just a warning.

I'd much rather handle snakes than most other animals in terms of the biting risk.

And yes, people have issues with them, but I would argue that it's more of a learned response than an instinctive one. Based on my observations, little kids have no problem meeting or touching a snake -- it's the adults that have issues. Seeing them up close is often a really good way to convince people that snakes are not really so bad.